Rail thing popped up again.

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by Chefkey

Elon Musk will have his Hyperloop up and running here before that train ever gets built!

With land so valuable and eminent domain so hard to use without major legal hurtles; the only true way to modernize our transportation system is underground in the megalopolis of the Northeast. Most of the old rail right of ways were purchased for another time where the equipment went much slower. We cannot have 80 mile/hour + rail lines with Seattle turns.

[fisheye]

One last word on high speed rail for here in the East; look at what is happening out West: https://hotair.com/archives/2018/01/...rain-paradise/. I quote: "The estimated cost of building 119 miles of bullet train track in the Central Valley has jumped to $10.6 billion, an increase of $2.8 billion from the current budget and up from about $6 billion originally." They are eight years behind schedule and they are still on phase I (they have not started tunneling under the mountains). Property acquisition is listed as one major factors for the cost overruns. Keep in mind that the first sections are through farming country.

The problems they are encountering out West; we will encounter back East - but it will cost considerably more for us due to the high cost of land as well as other factors. How much are passengers willing to pay to get to work? Would it not be cheaper to bring the work to the workers?

[charmed hour]

Originally Posted by fisheye

One last word on high speed rail for here in the East; look at what is happening out West: https://hotair.com/archives/2018/01/...rain-paradise/. I quote: "The estimated cost of building 119 miles of bullet train track in the Central Valley has jumped to $10.6 billion, an increase of $2.8 billion from the current budget and up from about $6 billion originally." They are eight years behind schedule and they are still on phase I (they have not started tunneling under the mountains). Property acquisition is listed as one major factors for the cost overruns. Keep in mind that the first sections are through farming country.

The problems they are encountering out West; we will encounter back East - but it will cost considerably more for us due to the high cost of land as well as other factors. How much are passengers willing to pay to get to work? Would it not be cheaper to bring the work to the workers?

For many of us who commute the salary and benefits are the incentive. Comparable work in NEPA for me is a minimum 40% pay cut, health insurance costs, no union, no pension. So, if they bring the Work they also need to bring the pay and benefits or many of us will continue the status quo of commuting.

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by charmed hour

For many of us who commute the salary and benefits are the incentive. Comparable work in NEPA for me is a minimum 40% pay cut, health insurance costs, no union, no pension. So, if they bring the Work they also need to bring the pay and benefits or many of us will continue the status quo of commuting.

Of course; that is all of the 'package'. Many of us were hoping that would become reality with the 'Wall Street West' project that now seems to have dematerialized.

With the infrastructure projects that we desperately need; I always hoped on more trucking and warehouse jobs. I know that they are not the NYC jobs with six figures; but they could be a good start. Unfortunately, other than UPS, we do not offer any union trucking jobs. However drivers for FEDEX and Walmart do make a comfortable living (at least for our area). Of course the unions do not have the power they once enjoyed.

[charmed hour]

Originally Posted by fisheye

Of course; that is all of the 'package'. Many of us were hoping that would become reality with the 'Wall Street West' project that now seems to have dematerialized.

With the infrastructure projects that we desperately need; I always hoped on more trucking and warehouse jobs. I know that they are not the NYC jobs with six figures; but they could be a good start. Unfortunately, other than UPS, we do not offer any union trucking jobs. However drivers for FEDEX and Walmart do make a comfortable living (at least for our area). Of course the unions do not have the power they once enjoyed.

Honestly, I not at six figures but my job has many perks that make it worth my while. I'm 1199 union so I have 0 payments into my health care and 0 out of pocket costs when in network (medical, vision, dental & prescription) and a very healthy pension system along with tuition reimbursement and plenty of PTO along with many other little perks that make life easier financially and emotionally.

I would be more than willing to take a pay cut (maybe not 40%) to be that much closer to home but when you factor in health care costs I'd incur it's just not worth it to me.

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by charmed hour

Honestly, I not at six figures but my job has many perks that make it worth my while. I'm 1199 union so I have 0 payments into my health care and 0 out of pocket costs when in network (medical, vision, dental & prescription) and a very healthy pension system along with tuition reimbursement and plenty of PTO along with many other little perks that make life easier financially and emotionally.

I would be more than willing to take a pay cut (maybe not 40%) to be that much closer to home but when you factor in health care costs I'd incur it's just not worth it to me.

There are always some good paying jobs in the area. If you use a site like the Glass Door, you have to sign up to see all salaries; you can see what the different companies in our area pay. Looking at Sanofi in Swiftwater (which they have listed in E. Stroudsburg) the salaries vary from about $17/hour to $165,000/year on the first page. One of the hardest parts of getting a good job in our area is working though the temporary workers system. That goes for many local employers that hire 'temps' before they give a chance at fulltime employment with benefits.

We might be a little off subject; but, if the jobs were here, there would be no reason to commute. What I do not understand is why the employers do not see the need for those jobs on this side of the river. Commuters that spend three/four/ or more hours on the road could use that time for productive work. Commuters are throwing away their free time as well as the opportunity to even make more money. That does not even mention the funds needed to keep the vehicles in condition to make these long trips.

[Rogue0888]

Originally Posted by fisheye

there would be no reason to commute. What I do not understand is why the employers do not see the need for those jobs on this side of the river.

From some of what i've read here on CD is lack of good infrastructure (road, sewer, etc) to support it is the general thought. Additional note, its more than just our side of the river, those commuters are going through western and northwestern NJ to get to those jobs. Outside of selective i don't think Sussex co has any major business either.

[charmed hour]

Originally Posted by fisheye

There are always some good paying jobs in the area. If you use a site like the Glass Door, you have to sign up to see all salaries; you can see what the different companies in our area pay. Looking at Sanofi in Swiftwater (which they have listed in E. Stroudsburg) the salaries vary from about $17/hour to $165,000/year on the first page. One of the hardest parts of getting a good job in our area is working though the temporary workers system. That goes for many local employers that hire 'temps' before they give a chance at fulltime employment with benefits.

We might be a little off subject; but, if the jobs were here, there would be no reason to commute. What I do not understand is why the employers do not see the need for those jobs on this side of the river. Commuters that spend three/four/ or more hours on the road could use that time for productive work. Commuters are throwing away their free time as well as the opportunity to even make more money. That does not even mention the funds needed to keep the vehicles in condition to make these long trips.

I've looked at Sanofi and they're pretty much a niche employer. You need a very particular skill set/educational background for 99% of their jobs.

I've been using Indeed and Glassdoor for several years to watch availabilities. Despite having a Masters in my field and nearly 20 years experience, starting salary is laughable in NEPA. Seriously, most jobs are at least 40% less than what I'm making, most are paying 1/3.

Even places like Penn and Temple down in Philly with my experience/education makes less than a starting position at my current employment. I'm just hanging in to hit my full 20 for my pension before I make any "big moves" concerning finding work closer to home.

ETA: I'm not complaining at all. I like my job, I like living in PA. It was a compromise I was willing to make.

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by charmed hour

I've looked at Sanofi and they're pretty much a niche employer. You need a very particular skill set/educational background for 99% of their jobs.

I've been using Indeed and Glassdoor for several years to watch availabilities. Despite having a Masters in my field and nearly 20 years experience, starting salary is laughable in NEPA. Seriously, most jobs are at least 40% less than what I'm making, most are paying 1/3.

Even places like Penn and Temple down in Philly with my experience/education makes less than a starting position at my current employment. I'm just hanging in to hit my full 20 for my pension before I make any "big moves" concerning finding work closer to home.

ETA: I'm not complaining at all. I like my job, I like living in PA. It was a compromise I was willing to make.

Sanofi has accountants and others that make big bucks. When I worked for Consolidated Freight I had a friend that's wife made over $150K/year as an accountant at the, then, National Drug Company that proceeded Connaught and eventually became Sanofi. My friend was making $75K/year and the two of them were knocking down about $225K. What I am saying is that some of us locals still managed to make a good living. I would be working for them right now as a Manpower temp if it was not for my wife. I always liked the idea of making vaccines that saved lives - even if I was only a grunt.

But, yes, they prefer younger college graduates with a major in biology, But you never know unless your apply. They have people in charge of the sewage treatment plant, they need many engineers, salesmen, electricians, - you never know unless you check.

I hung out with the Teamsters for 30 years just for the pension. We all do what we have to do.

While I know times are difficult; it never hurts to always look.

When it comes to rail service; I just feel that it is too expensive. If we could improve the local jobs and our local infrastructure (one improvement would feed off the other); maybe rail would follow?