ACEIZE Tracking the current state of Science and Technology

This letter was originally published at smokincat.com on July 31, 2006. Since I am shutting down smokincat.com, I thought I would republish the article here.

July 31, 2006

To Whom It May Concern:

I know there are a number of advocacy groups around the United States who are promoting the construction of a high speed rail network. Outside of California, they seem to have made little leeway into the general thought of the American people. Here is my suggestion to push that dream forward and perhaps light a spark in the minds of the citizenry. 

The advocacy groups around the country should form a corporation that will act as The "High Speed Rail Network" company.
I am envisioning a company that will eventually have government integration similar to Amtrak or the US post office, although initially this will not necessarily be the case. I should note that separation from Amtrak is important to implicitly portray high speed rail as completely different from the current rail system. This high speed rail network (HSRN) corporation will initially be concerned with the idea of raising investment capital and resources from business and government. It is likely that the various advocacy groups currently have all the staff needed for this work. What is needed at this stage are dedicated individuals going to public meetings and advocating the rail network and fundraising. At this stage in the corporate development of the high speed rail network (HSRN) they do not need to know a single thing about how a HSRN would actually function, they simply need to be dedicated to the idea and begin to approach government and business groups to get together some of the capital. During this initial development phase, however, it may facilitate the funding process to have a well put together business plan about how the HSRN would function and the economic factors involved. Perhaps during this business plan phase it may be determined that such a HSRN would itself be profitable. It may however be determined that the profit may come in terms of social and environmental benefits; lack of pollution, more efficiently used work hours, more miles of transportation per person for less materials and energy, etc. With this business information in hand, it should be easier to contact the appropriate investors. 

Once this corporate entity, cobbled together from all the current volunteers and enthusiasts, has raised enough money to begin construction of a regional rail network the company will need to expand personnel to incorporate the needed specialties of the construction phase. During this construction phase the original fund raising part of the corporation would still exist in order to pull together new funding to expand the network and organize the expenditure of funds during construction. 

Once construction of the first part of the regional rail network has been completed, operation of the rail system must begin. This incorporates the third portion of the rail system staff that will be concerned with the efficient operation of the rail network. For a long time the HSRN could operate with these three branches; fund raising, construction, and operation. However as the rail system reaches maturity it will ultimately be necessary to change the functions of the fund raising and construction branches to operational accounting and maintenance respectively. 

The real key to all of this, and the method by which I believe an American High Speed Rail Network can be constructed, is by the formation of a corporation consisting of the dedicated-to-the-cause individuals who are already promoting the existence of this rail network. A corporation that is preparing to undertake the task of actually operating a HSRN will necessarily lend an image of feasibility and eventuality to the HSRN. This image will be furthered by the eventual detailed research and planning backing the feasibility of HSRN that is necessary for a corporate entity.

Sincerely,

Greg Kontos
Richmond, VA 
July 2006

Greg Kontos is a small retail business owner and web programmer in Richmond, VA.