California adds 12 cent gas tax and 20 cent diesel tax

spoon059 wrote:

NYCgrrl wrote:
Mass transit IS essential to any community that is not simply thinking of the currently able bodied.
Children, certain physically challenged people, the poor, senior citizens, come to mind off the top of my head and least this way it isn't regulated solely to them.

A high speed transit between cities is not "mass transit" of a city. The state of New York doesn't extend a high speed subway to Albany so that "disabled people" or children can easily get to Manhattan. You are comparing 2 VASTLY different things here.

I have to agree. I can't think of one country that we have visited that uses high speed trains as some sort of mass transit. They are almost always used as long range travel in lieu of air travel. It is more convenient as it is down town to down town so no expensive cab ride or crazy airport parking fees. Much more comfortable, less stressfull in every regard, more room, bar car, restaurant, reclining seats with a table, usually a movie and usually half the price. I can't think of anyone anywhere that would fly instead of taking the AVE or TGF. From Barcelona to Sevilla it takes about the same time for the train as it does for the plane once you factor in the 2 hour security stuff and the can rides etc. to each his own but air travel is not in the same league as High Speed Train travel...in my opinion.