Thank you for your informative article on the Northern New England Intercity Rail Initiative (which would extend train service along the Connecticut River from Springfield to Montreal and between New Haven, Conn., and Boston).
I also read the 13-page summary for additional information that you referred to on the internet. As we become more immune to million-dollar amounts as our elected officials run budget deficits of trillions, I’ve decided to break it down to amounts the average person can understand without major calculations.
Just to break even, it would take $77 per ticket to make the $33 million yearly operating cost.
The $15 million subsidy from taxpayer funds would bring the cost per ticket down to $42. Before you rail fans buy your tickets, remember these estimates are provided by the same people who gave you the Big Dig and the Greenfield Middle School.
It doesn’t seem feasible now or in the immediate future. But that won’t stop the politicians and their lobbyists from another round of them trying to feather their nests.
Kudos to Dan Gregory of Greenfield for his piece on the new detoxification center.
I enjoy reading the editorial page, although I only agree with about 10 percent of the material presented there (in “My Turn” and letters to the editor).
Wilson Roberts wants to limit Rev. Phill Grant’s freedom of speech and The Recorder’s publishing his letters. Why do “progressives” want to take away First and Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens?
As former grunt in the U.S. Marine Corps, I like to hear an Air Force veteran’s opinion on how he feels our country is going. I happen to agree with that writer.
In other news, in 2014, Kennametal Inc. (at 34 Sanderson St. in Greenfield) got a tax break of $1.5 million for creating 70 new jobs. Now that the workforce is being reduced 30 percent (21 out of 70), will Greenfield get a 30 percent reduction in the amount of tax break it has given?
I am sure the taxpayers in Greenfield could use $450,000 over 10 years.
Mal Brennan
Northfield