Replying to SoCal HSR News

U.S. stands by California bullet train project despite critics

"'We are not going to flinch on that support,' said Joseph Szabo, chief of the Federal Railroad Administration.

"Szabo said that his agency had committed itself to provide $3.3 billion for a construction start next year in the Central Valley and that federal law prohibits any change of mind about where to begin building the first segment of the state's high-speed rail system."

"'The worst thing we could do is make obligations to folks and start to renege on our word,' Szabo told the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee."

The LA Times printed this pretty neutral and fairly informative article today on the driving requirements for the CAHSR project.

The usual "bullet train or death" fanatics on this thread will claim the LA Times is in league with hundreds of others in some evil conspiracy to kill the project (even tho the Times editorially supports the concept) but I don't know how any objective observer can read this article and not sense that something terribly wrong has gone on with the planning and budgeting process. There are too many people from too many different sides of the political spectrum raising questions for defenders to just shout "conspiracy" or "NIMBY" or other epithets any more and expect to be taken seriously.

In a perfect world, the bullet train would be a great addition. But for a small smidgeon of the $98 billion being bandied about, you could provide LA, San Diego, Sacramento, Orange County, etc. with well-functioning rapid transit systems more than competitive to private auto use. It's time to start thinking of alternatives before everything is lost.

The LA Times printed this pretty neutral and fairly informative article today on the driving requirements for the CAHSR project.

Bullet train would lose in revote

"'It is easy to understand voter frustration on a lot of things at this very moment, but it shouldn't dictate the future of California's transportation infrastructure,' said state Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, (D-Sacramento). 'A knee-jerk reaction to a snapshot in time would be a mistake.'"

The anti-HSR people are getting major publicity, and are not letting the facts get in the way of their whines. "Bussinesses will be shut dow! ! !" Horror of horrors! Yes, there will be businesses that have to relocate. News Flash! You can't go fast and go around everything. The whiners will bet paid to relocate. Affected facilites, such as the school in Bakersfield will be relocated! Overpasses adn underpasses will be built, some roads will be relocated. Do you really think the railroad will cost as much as is bugeted? Much of the money will go to making these whiners happy.

The reason that it is justifiable to build something that may not make a profit, but based on what has happened in other parts of the world probably will, is that many people are benefitted that are not paying fares to ride the trains. Think of all the cars NOT on the roads. Think of the airport congestion that is not there, etc., ect. Think of all the exhaust fumes from cars and planes that are not spewed into the atmosphere.

President Elect Gingrich must be furious to hear that America's last best chance for high speed rail is already on the ropes and will likely be long gone before he can be sworn in.

Bullet train would lose in revote

"'It is easy to understand voter frustration on a lot of things at this very moment, but it shouldn't dictate the future of California's transportation infrastructure,' said state Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, (D-Sacramento). 'A knee-jerk reaction to a snapshot in time would be a mistake.'"

Roadblock after obstruction after hurdle...

Bullet train funding plan faulted

"The funding plan for the California bullet train does not comply with key provisions of a ballot measure that voters approved to authorize the project and $9 billion in state bonds to help finance it, according to a report released Tuesday.

"The study — by the Legislative Analyst's Office, which periodically reviews the $98-billion construction proposal — concluded that the most recent funding plan does not meet important requirements of Proposition 1A because high-speed trains cannot operate on the first stretch of track to be built next year in the Central Valley."

Note the use of past tense.

They start next year or lose the Federal funding. This is the first strike back by a legislator.

Roadblock after obstruction after hurdle...

Bullet train funding plan faulted

"The funding plan for the California bullet train does not comply with key provisions of a ballot measure that voters approved to authorize the project and $9 billion in state bonds to help finance it, according to a report released Tuesday.

"The study — by the Legislative Analyst's Office, which periodically reviews the $98-billion construction proposal — concluded that the most recent funding plan does not meet important requirements of Proposition 1A because high-speed trains cannot operate on the first stretch of track to be built next year in the Central Valley."

Note the use of past tense.

Excerpted form the Railroad.net, Railroad Industry News:

"Funding Secured for First Phase of California High-Speed Rail

Posted: 27 Nov 2011 12:34 PM PST

An important step in making California high-speed rail a reality has recently been announced in a California High-Speed Rail Authority press release. The announcement reveals that the authority and the Federal Railroad Administration have signed a cooperative agreement, which will allot $928 million for the first phase of high-speed rail construction. With this agreement, it is confirmed that enough funding has been secured for the design, engineering and construction of the first 130 miles of high-speed rail. ...

Moderator edit: reduced the quoted material due to copyright issues and credited source.

Not really news from the Party of No...

Bullet Train Funds in GOP Sights

"The case against the bullet train is being led by a group of California Republicans, including Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Atwater) and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), the House majority whip, who have argued the project is deeply flawed and has become unaffordable as the cost has spiraled to $98.5 billion.

"Denham, a subcommittee chairman on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said he believes all of the project's grants can be rescinded by Congress and should be reallocated to highway construction in the Central Valley. Republican staffers are formulating plans to grab the bullet train money, which they said has not been spent or put under contract."

This just in:

"Californians For High Speed Rail
Great news! The California High Speed Rail project achieved a significant milestone today. The U.S. Department of Transportation "obligated" all remaining federal funds today previously awarded to California's HSR project. This is significant because now funds are no longer subject to be rescinded (or taken back) by any future legislation in Congress."

I guess they heard the House and decided to act.