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Bullet train backers want rail funds that Florida shunned

"California bullet train supporters began angling Wednesday for a sizeable share of $2.4 billion in federal high-speed rail funding that Florida Gov. Rick Scott rejected."

"'The state is "in a great position to be … competitive for federal dollars,' said Jeffrey Barker, deputy executive director of the California High-Speed Rail Authority. California has the nation's only truly high-speed train project in advanced stages of planning, he added."

__________________

Any other Republican governors out there feeling ideologically bound to reject money and jobs for their states? Right this way...
 
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A SoCal state senator has introduced legislation to overhaul the leadership structure of the state's HSR agency, the California High-Speed Rail Authority, and also tie it more closely to state government.

"[sen. Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach)], a former chairman of the Senate's Transportation Committee, has criticized what he sees as a lack of accountability at the agency, which has been the subject of several critical audits in recent years. He expects to head a new Senate select committee focusing on the bullet train project that will be announced soon."

Bill targets high-speed rail operations

"Among other things, the legislation would require new appointments to the board, with members required to have a range of experience in such areas as construction law, financing, engineering, environmental policy and local government. The rail agency also would be brought under the umbrella of the governor's secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing."Prospects for passage were not clear, but Lowenthal said the measure is partly intended to engage legislative leaders and Gov. Jerry Brown in a reexamination of how the project should proceed.

"High-speed rail 'is the most complex transportation project ever undertaken by the state,' Lowenthal said. 'As a supporter, I believe the project would be better served if the board members had specific expertise.'"
 
The L.A. Times calls this little confab "the first gathering of firms hoping to design, build or operate part of the network of trains slated to run up to 220 miles per hour between major cities in California," but in fact there was an earlier symposium, partly sponsored by the Japanese government and featuring Japanese companies, held in a downtown hotel in January (complete with sushi, wine, and brewski afterward!).

Bullet train officials hold forum for potential contractors

"With state officials committed to breaking ground next year on a $43-billion Los Angeles-to-San Francisco high-speed rail link, would-be bidders from Asia, Europe and across the United States are lining up to compete."

"California has done well in the administration's push to build high-speed rail, obtaining about $3.75 billion in federal grants. But the state still needs tens of billions of dollars in federal and private funding to finish even the 520-mile first phase of the system."
 
The current concept for the San Jose station looks nothing like the archtectural rendering in the LA Times article. It is much, much smaller and is planned to be over the top of the existing San Jose railroad statin used by Caltrain and Amtrak. At this point, a quick look on amtraktrains site after doing a late night check on office emails, I am not going to attempt to hunt down a reasonably accurate likeness of the current scheme that has been presented to the public. Those interested, good luck and have fun.
 
I'm no expert, or lawyer, or politico, but this seems like an attempt to (take your pick) a) hijack Cal HSR to suit local ends, b) piggyback Caltrain's electrification dreams on Cal HSR's budget, or c) some combination of a & b.

Peninsula lawmakers call for 'blended' approach to high-speed rail

"Through a combination of electrification, a new train control system and other improvements, the lawmakers say it's possible to create a '21st Century Caltrain' system that would send high-speed trains from San Jose to San Francisco. North of San Jose, bullet trains would use the same tracks as an upgraded Caltrain and pass commuter trains in the same way that Baby Bullets pass non-express trains.

"The lawmakers said they want the system to remain within the Caltrain right of way and would oppose running trains along elevated structures. They also said the rail authority should halt work on a study of the current project's environmental impacts, branding it a "fool's errand" in the face of local opposition and limited funding. The federal government last week eliminated all funding for high-speed rail projects."

BTW, there's that same graphic as in the L.A. Times, this time credited to the Cal HSR Authority, and again said to be a rendering of the proposed San Jose station.
 
Caltrain and HSR should be an integrated system on the Peninsula. The service should be operated as such that any train can use any track and stop at any platform at any time.

There should be no barriers obstructing access from one system to the other. Transfers should be cross-platform and as seamless as possible. Stations should be designed to focus on the pedestrian experience. Train stations on the Peninsula should adhere to this principle at all times, the pedestrian is king.

I don't know if Eshoo and Simitian care about all that, but their integrated solution moves the project in the right direction.
 
We've heard from this guy before, a persistent critic of rail of any kind, and a cheerleader for increased burning of fossil fuels. This time he takes aim at California's HSR plans...

High-speed rail hopes are off the tracks

After trotting out a few numbers attributed to the current administration, there's this:

"This is only a tiny fraction of the resources that would be required to make high-speed rail a viable intercity transportation option. Even if we were prepared to further bankrupt ourselves doing so, we would accomplish nothing that cannot be accomplished much more cheaply by expanding airports, better maintaining and managing roads, and using conventional technology to burn gasoline and jet fuel even more cleanly.

"The market for U.S air travel has been aggressively deregulated, and airfares are relatively low. As a result, U.S. airlines capture a large share of the market for short intercity trips. Even with recent increases in the price of oil, retail gasoline prices in the U.S. are about half the pump price in Europe, and the differential is even greater relative to places such as China and India. Consequently, a large share of the U.S. market for medium and long trips is accounted for by automobile travel. There is not enough room for high-speed rail to compete."

________________________

Oh, and for the 3rd time in about a week the exact same rendering is said to be the San Jose HSR station, for the second time attributed to the Cal HSR Authority.
 
WhoozOn1st said:
"The lawmakers said they want the system to remain within the Caltrain right of way and would oppose running trains along elevated structures. They also said the rail authority should halt work on a study of the current project's environmental impacts, branding it a "fool's errand" in the face of local opposition and limited funding. The federal government last week eliminated all funding for high-speed rail projects."
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I hate to say it, but that's not such an unreasonable interpretation given how much of a pummeling HSR has taken from recently elected politicians. If CA has lost all funding for HSR from the federal government how can they possibly hope to pay for all $50 billion plus they expect this system to cost?
 
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daxomni said:
WhoozOn1st said:
"The lawmakers said they want the system to remain within the Caltrain right of way and would oppose running trains along elevated structures. They also said the rail authority should halt work on a study of the current project's environmental impacts, branding it a "fool's errand" in the face of local opposition and limited funding. The federal government last week eliminated all funding for high-speed rail projects."
Click to expand...
I hate to say it, but that's not such an unreasonable interpretation given how much of a pummeling HSR has taken from recently elected politicians. If CA has lost all funding for HSR from the federal government how can they possibly hope to pay for all $50 billion plus they expect this system to cost?
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CA did not lose funding that has already been granted for the HSR project. The quote mis-represents what happened in the FY2011 budget outcome. The $1 billion that the Obama administration had requested for FY11 for HSIPR was deleted as was the $2.5 billion in the appropriations bill that passed the House last fall, so there is zero funding for FY11. $400 million of the FY2010 HSIPR funding returned by Gov. Scott in Florida was rescinded. However, that leaves $8 billion of the stimulus funding and $2.1 billion from the FY10 appropriations intact and to be to put to work over the next 6 years. CA HSR still has around $3.6 billion of federal funding to use. $2.03 billion of the Florida HSR funds are to be re-allocated by the FRA and Secretary LaHood and CA HSR is likely to get a fair sized piece of that money. The CHSRA applied for more than $2.43 billion for the Florida funds before the $400 million of it was rescinded, have to give them points for that.

As for the Caltrain San Jose-SF corridor, I think it is better to do it right the first time around rather than to seriously hinder the HSR system from the outset. Build the 4 track grade separated corridor and be done with it. It is a 4 track rail line, not a limited access 4 lane highway which takes up a much wider ROW.
 
After years of preferring an eastern alignment through the Antelope Valley and over the Tehachapi mountains, Cal's HSR Authority is taking another look at a route over the Grapevine, close to I-5, according to this KBAK/KBFX story:

Grapevine route now favored for high-speed rail

"The route along Highway 58 and south to the Antelope Valley was thought to have less tunneling, which would make for easier construction and lower costs. That alignment was also considered to have less seismic activity and fewer environmental impacts, and allow a station in fast-growing Palmdale.

"But as studies got more detailed and specific, a different picture emerged.

"'After further study, the (Hwy. 58) alignment alternatives require substantially greater tunnel lengths at higher cost than any envisioned...' reads the HSR report.... The report goes on to say the 58 alignments also have more environmental and residential impacts than first thought.

"Newly discovered advantages to the Grapevine route are also outlined. The report says that alignment could be 25 miles shorter, saving seven to nine minutes of bullet train travel time. It further says the Grapevine route, 'may result in a significant cost saving ($ Billions) over an alignment via Palmdale.'"

KBAK/KBFX news video
 
Here's a real news story - not a TV treatment - about the decision to revisit the Cal HSR route option of going over the Grapevine following I-5, instead of through the Antelope Valley and over the Tehachapis...

Rail planners revive Grapevine route

"Following the I-5 also sidesteps newly recognized earthquake risks along the Antelope Valley route, and dodges rising opposition from homeowners who have moved to new developments along the path paralleling California 14 to Palmdale. A Times analysis shows that the population near the highway has grown 24% in the last decade."

"But, as bullet train promoters are painfully aware, curing one headache often creates another. Developers planning a major mountain community at Tejon Ranch, along the I-5, warned the board Thursday that a Grapevine option could disrupt their project and cost the agency dearly for right of way."

61402142.jpg



Excerpt from a comment on the article: "'NIMBY NIMBY NIMBY,' NIMBYbert McNIMBY was quoted as saying at a townhall meeting in NIMBYville."

HAHAHA!!
 
Today we have a couple letters to the editor of the L.A. Times regarding the above story, "Rail planners revive Grapevine route." They're copy/pasted to avoid slogging through the other 8 letters published on this date, with authors' names omitted.

Letter 1:

"So the California High-Speed Rail Authority voted to review the Grapevine route again. Good. The train should go along the Interstate 5 freeway instead of through the Antelope Valley.

"Palmdale already has Metrolink service that takes commuters to downtown Los Angeles. It would make no sense for a high-speed rail line to detour through these communities. It's a high-speed line, not a Metrolink train that stops in all communities. Just go along the 5."

--Los Angeles

Letter 2:

"Your article about the renewed feud on the routing of the high-speed train offers yet another harbinger of the disaster this exercise in pork will prove to be for Californians and their wallets.

"Already assessed as 'one of the nation's costliest transportation projects,' such squabbling between political camps will simply exacerbate this fiasco of a project, which will break all boundaries of mismanagement and cost overruns. Pray to the heavens that Congress will withhold all federal grant funds in the name of deficit reduction and that this unnecessary boondoggle dies a quick and merciful death."

--Long Beach
 
As noted elsewhere around here, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation has announced reallocation of the HSR funding spurned by Florida's Republican governor. Via NARP e-mail, California will receive...

 

"$300 million more for the nation's first 220-mph high-speed rail system, extending the already-funded 110-mile segment an additional 20 miles 'to advance completion of the Central Valley project, the backbone of the [planned] Los Angeles to San Francisco corridor.'"
 
L.A. Times take on the HSR reallocation grants announced 5-9-11:

California to get more rail money

"'This is great news for Californians, who have already made strong financial commitments to infrastructure projects, [California Senator Dianne] Feinstein said. I applaud Secretary LaHood for responding to our request and allowing the state of California to utilize these funds to advance high-speed rail. No other state is as ready and able to lead the way in demonstrating the viability of high-speed rail. In addition, these funds will support thousands of new manufacturing, construction, and technology jobs in California.'"

On the corridor front, and under discussion elsewhere in these forums...

"A separate grant of $68 million will be used for 15 high-performance passenger rail cars and four quick-acceleration locomotives for the Pacific Surfliner, San Joaquin, and Capitol corridors in California, the DOT stated."
 
WhoozOn1st said:
"A separate grant of $68 million will be used for 15 high-performance passenger rail cars and four quick-acceleration locomotives for the Pacific Surfliner, San Joaquin, and Capitol corridors in California, the DOT stated."
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That is indirectly good news for the NEC since we might get some of those displaced Amfleets shipped back east to augment corridor Regional train capacity. :)
 
jis said:
WhoozOn1st said:
"A separate grant of $68 million will be used for 15 high-performance passenger rail cars and four quick-acceleration locomotives for the Pacific Surfliner, San Joaquin, and Capitol corridors in California, the DOT stated."
Click to expand...
That is indirectly good news for the NEC since we might get some of those displaced Amfleets shipped back east to augment corridor Regional train capacity. :)
Click to expand...
Can you wait 3 to 5 years before the Amfleets will be back to the east? It takes time to build new ones and running test.
 
gswager said:
jis said:
WhoozOn1st said:
"A separate grant of $68 million will be used for 15 high-performance passenger rail cars and four quick-acceleration locomotives for the Pacific Surfliner, San Joaquin, and Capitol corridors in California, the DOT stated."
Click to expand...
That is indirectly good news for the NEC since we might get some of those displaced Amfleets shipped back east to augment corridor Regional train capacity. :)
Click to expand...
Can you wait 3 to 5 years before the Amfleets will be back to the east? It takes time to build new ones and running test.
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They still have another 10 or so sitting around in Wilmington/Bear awaiting funding or some such to get refurbished and sent out on the road too. Besides if push comes to shove I am sure we could convince NJT to part with their entire low level fleet :D They will unfortunately require new seats. :) But since Amtrak is now willing to fund equipment acquisition based on financing based on expected income, at least for the Northeast Corridor, there still is hope.

Also the two additional cars per set that is being ordered for the Acelas financed by expected income, will help too.
 
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WhoozOn1st said:
L.A. Times take on the HSR reallocation grants announced 5-9-11:

California to get more rail money

"'This is great news for Californians, who have already made strong financial commitments to infrastructure projects, [California Senator Dianne] Feinstein said. I applaud Secretary LaHood for responding to our request and allowing the state of California to utilize these funds to advance high-speed rail. No other state is as ready and able to lead the way in demonstrating the viability of high-speed rail. In addition, these funds will support thousands of new manufacturing, construction, and technology jobs in California.'"

On the corridor front, and under discussion elsewhere in these forums...

"A separate grant of $68 million will be used for 15 high-performance passenger rail cars and four quick-acceleration locomotives for the Pacific Surfliner, San Joaquin, and Capitol corridors in California, the DOT stated."
Click to expand...

And what, exactly are "high-performance passenger rail cars and ,,, quick-acceleration locomotives"?
 
leemell said:
And what, exactly are "high-performance passenger rail cars and ,,, quick-acceleration locomotives"?
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The single level and bi-level passenger cars are to be capable of operating at 125 mph. The diesel locomotives are also to be 125 mph capable, which implies increased horsepower so the locos are probably specified to have increased acceleration capability. Although in practice, saving on fuel consumption is likely to trump going for rapid acceleration. These are all part of the Next Generation equipment specifications which can be found at http://www.highspeed-rail.org/Pages/DocsSpecs.aspx if you want to read them.
 
A report by the state Legislative Analyst's Office calls for big changes in the way California's HSR effort is being managed. Among other things it recommends that decision-making be turned over to the state Dept. of Transportation (Caltrans), and the California Transportation Commission.

Changes Urged For Rail Project

"The high-speed rail authority now operates with only a policy-setting board and a small bureaucracy to manage dozens of engineering, management and public relations contractors. Even the authority's own internal oversight panel has called the staff too small to handle such a large undertaking."

Also...

"The analyst's report concluded that deadlines and requirements for spending federal funds need to be renegotiated and changed to provide legislators more time and greater flexibility to make the multibillion-dollar decisions they could soon face.

"The researchers recommended negotiating with the federal government to modify a fall 2012 deadline for starting construction in the Central Valley and requirements that about $3 billion in federal funds be spent only on that segment."
 
WhoozOn1st said:
A report by the state Legislative Analyst's Office calls for big changes in the way California's HSR effort is being managed. Among other things it recommends that decision-making be turned over to the state Dept. of Transportation (Caltrans), and the California Transportation Commission.

Changes Urged For Rail Project

"The high-speed rail authority now operates with only a policy-setting board and a small bureaucracy to manage dozens of engineering, management and public relations contractors. Even the authority's own internal oversight panel has called the staff too small to handle such a large undertaking."

Also...

"The analyst's report concluded that deadlines and requirements for spending federal funds need to be renegotiated and changed to provide legislators more time and greater flexibility to make the multibillion-dollar decisions they could soon face.

"The researchers recommended negotiating with the federal government to modify a fall 2012 deadline for starting construction in the Central Valley and requirements that about $3 billion in federal funds be spent only on that segment."
Click to expand...
On one hand I agree with part of this, CAHSR's staff is far to small to manage this enormous construction task. It is very easy to get run over by your contractors, it requires a lot of experience to manage this. On the other hand,I would not trust CalTrans with this project, they have very little train construction experience, but can mange very large projects. I think CAHSR needs to ramp up their construction and finance teams very soon, they are planning for steel on the ground in less than 18 months. They need a few key people who have HSR project experience now.
 
My favorite part of the report is the fact that 193 million dollars is budgeted to be spent this year on the HSR project. Since they aren't planning on building anything yet the entire amount is going to consultants and administrative costs.
 
stntylr said:
My favorite part of the report is the fact that 193 million dollars is budgeted to be spent this year on the HSR project. Since they aren't planning on building anything yet the entire amount is going to consultants and administrative costs.
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And make that big engineering costs. With just 18 months to go this is when some of the heavy engineering gets done.
 
stntylr said:
My favorite part of the report is the fact that 193 million dollars is budgeted to be spent this year on the HSR project. Since they aren't planning on building anything yet the entire amount is going to consultants and administrative costs.
Click to expand...
So you believe that they should just get on with the digging without having a complete design and architecture? Or do you believe that the design and architecture gets done for free by someone?
 

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