California getting crushed in high-speed rail race

[Political Junky]

California getting lapped in high-speed rail race - The Reporter


In the international race to build bullet trains, California is not only getting crushed by the likes of France and Japan but also Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan.
Dozens of powerful nations and even far-flung countries on every continent except Antarctica are asking the Golden State what's taking so long to join the bullet train club. The answer could come as soon as this week, when the state Legislature votes whether to start building the $69 billion rail line.

But don't start booking your tickets just yet: California must overcome more obstacles than the countries that have built the world's 10,000 miles of high-speed rail.

Europe has a train culture where gas is two to three times more expensive than it is in California. China uses dirt-cheap labor to build tracks at an alarming rate. South Africa needed fast trains to serve the World Cup, and the Middle East wants a faster pilgrimage to holy cities during Hajj and Ramadan.

California, meanwhile, has high labor costs and strict environmental laws, an awful formula for building a gigantic infrastructure project. We've built dozens of airports and freeways, generating the kind of sprawl and travel options that make a bullet train system harder to justify.

"For every person who says, 'Oh, I just got back from riding the TGV (bullet train) in France,' there is somebody else saying, 'Wait a minute, California is not like Spain or these other places,' " said Dan Richard, who Gov. Jerry Brown appointed to lead the project.
"Having said that, I don't think we can or should be blind to what's happened in these other countries because there are a lot of things to be learned."
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[Flopper]

Unfortunately, the cost of high speed rail in the US will prevent it from becoming the primary transportation system. I think history will see the development of our highway system as a major mistake.

 

[Two Thumbs]

Unfortunately, the cost of high speed rail in the US will prevent it from becoming the primary transportation system. I think history will see the development of our highway system as a major mistake.

Who built it?

 

[Two Thumbs]

California getting lapped in high-speed rail race - The Reporter


In the international race to build bullet trains, California is not only getting crushed by the likes of France and Japan but also Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan.
Dozens of powerful nations and even far-flung countries on every continent except Antarctica are asking the Golden State what's taking so long to join the bullet train club. The answer could come as soon as this week, when the state Legislature votes whether to start building the $69 billion rail line.

But don't start booking your tickets just yet: California must overcome more obstacles than the countries that have built the world's 10,000 miles of high-speed rail.

Europe has a train culture where gas is two to three times more expensive than it is in California. China uses dirt-cheap labor to build tracks at an alarming rate. South Africa needed fast trains to serve the World Cup, and the Middle East wants a faster pilgrimage to holy cities during Hajj and Ramadan.

California, meanwhile, has high labor costs and strict environmental laws, an awful formula for building a gigantic infrastructure project. We've built dozens of airports and freeways, generating the kind of sprawl and travel options that make a bullet train system harder to justify.

"For every person who says, 'Oh, I just got back from riding the TGV (bullet train) in France,' there is somebody else saying, 'Wait a minute, California is not like Spain or these other places,' " said Dan Richard, who Gov. Jerry Brown appointed to lead the project.
"Having said that, I don't think we can or should be blind to what's happened in these other countries because there are a lot of things to be learned."
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Liberalism is an awful combination.

different far left groups will sue the fuck outta state, counties, cities and towns to stop this.

and you will only have yourselves to blame when the cost goes over 69 billion and it's not half done.

 

[MeBelle]

California can't afford and doesn't need a high speed bullet train.

 

[Political Junky]

Sure it does. If one could get from SF to LA in 2 1/2 hours it would cut the time to less than a flight. Right now the flight takes just under an hour plus the trip to and from both airports, and the need to arrive early for security etc.

 

[Oddball]

Sure it does. If one could get from SF to LA in 2 1/2 hours it would cut the time to less than a flight. Right now the flight takes just under an hour plus the trip to and from both airports, and the need to arrive early for security etc.

Now, all you have to worry about are enough people traveling from LA to SF, and maybe a few stops in between, to have enough passengers who think it's more attractive than driving and having their car on hand at the destination.

Poor silly lolberals....They still think America is Europe or Japan....

 

[Political Junky]

Never been on a high speed train in Europe, have you?

 

[Oddball]

The cities of Europe ain't San Francisco and LA.

Here....Down another hit of the brown stuff...It's far out!

 

[Political Junky]

The cities of Europe ain't San Francisco and LA.

Here....Down another hit of the brown stuff...It's far out!

What does that mean?

 

[Annie]

California can't afford and doesn't need a high speed bullet train.

and they don't want it:

Poll: Public opinion wanes on California bullet train plan - Los Angeles Times

Voters have turned against California bullet train, poll shows
A strong majority of voters is against the bullet train project just as Gov. Brown is pressuring the Legislature to green-light the start of construction, a USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll finds.
June 02, 2012|By Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times

In a state renowned for betting big on mega-infrastructure projects, including the world's most famous freeways and canals that move oceans of water across hundreds of miles, the fast-approaching decision on the bullet train project marks a historic Golden State moment.

Whether eroding public support will sway the Legislature is unclear. Brown, the Obama administration, labor unions and Democratic leaders, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, are ramping up pressure on key state senators to cast aside doubts and commit funding this summer for an initial 130-mile section of track.

But the new poll numbers show that proceeding could put lawmakers on the wrong side of public opinion. Across the state, 55% of the voters want the bond issue that was approved in 2008 placed back on the ballot, and 59% say they now would vote against it.

Since voters approved that $9-billion borrowing plan, the state and national economic outlook has dimmed and some of the promises about the bullet train have been compromised. Its projected cost has roughly doubled, and it will now share track with slower commuter and freight trains in some areas. Powerful agriculture groups and freight railroads have asserted that proposed routes would damage their interests and compromise safety. Churches, schools, businesses and homeowners are fighting the project.

Brown and a coalition of bullet train backers have argued that the project requires a long-term optimistic view of California's future. Proponents say that highways and airports will reach their capacity someday and that the state must be prepared.

Said Dan Richard, chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, citing improvements to the plan: "This is a large, complex project, and we believe that once Californians learn more about the positive turnaround at the authority, they will embrace the improved direction."

...

The last guy's quote, Richard, remind me of Obama saying that Americans would like the health care reform laws as they became more familiar with it. Those numbers are still tanking, regardless of how SCOTUS rules.

 

[Oddball]

The cities of Europe ain't San Francisco and LA.

Here....Down another hit of the brown stuff...It's far out!

What does that mean?

It means that you don't know shit from shinola.

 

[Unkotare]

Unfortunately, the cost of high speed rail in the US will prevent it from becoming the primary transportation system. I think history will see the development of our highway system as a major mistake.

If by "history" you mean 'Lefty Wannabe Intelligensia,' then yes.

 

[Intense]

California can't afford and doesn't need a high speed bullet train.

What is really sad there too, is everyone will have to Commute Long distance to get to it.

 

[Avorysuds]

Serious question, what would a high speed train solve other than bankrupting California further? I lived in Cali for 22 years and I can't think of one reason for a billion dollar speedy train other than to feed the ego that Cali has yet one more thing it can't afford.

 

[Political Junky]

The cities of Europe ain't San Francisco and LA.

Here....Down another hit of the brown stuff...It's far out!

What does that mean?

It means that you don't know shit from shinola.

It means you've never traveled.
The driving time from LA to SF is about 6 - 6 1/2 hours if you don't stop. I'd rather relax on the train, use my computer, phone, or just enjoy the scenery.

 

[Oddball]

The cities of Europe ain't San Francisco and LA.

Here....Down another hit of the brown stuff...It's far out!

What does that mean?

It means that you don't know shit from shinola.

California can't afford and doesn't need a high speed bullet train.

What is really sad there too, is everyone will have to Commute Long distance to get to it.

There you have it, folx!

 

[Avorysuds]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEZjzsnPhnw]Simpsons - Monorail - YouTube[/ame]

Cali needs 500,000,000,000 of these!

 

[Annie]

What does that mean?

It means that you don't know shit from shinola.

It means you've never traveled.
The driving time from LA to SF is about 6 - 6 1/2 hours if you don't stop. I'd rather relax on the train, use my computer, phone, or just enjoy the scenery.

So you commute that daily?

 

[Political Junky]

California can't afford and doesn't need a high speed bullet train.

What is really sad there too, is everyone will have to Commute Long distance to get to it.

Commute to get to the train? Both train stations are in downtown .. same as in Europe.