tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post2833236205632185447..comments2023-10-30T09:03:07.163-07:00Comments on California High Speed Rail Blog: Will Obama Repeat Clinton's Failure?Robert Cruickshankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906581839066570472noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-7568947661831860842008-12-12T10:56:00.000-08:002008-12-12T10:56:00.000-08:00Atlanta has MARTA.Atlanta has MARTA.Alon Levyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12195377309045184452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-92117478811106427822008-12-11T18:58:00.000-08:002008-12-11T18:58:00.000-08:00without heavy rail commuter/regional service: Hous...without heavy rail commuter/regional service: Houston, Detroit, Cleveland, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Phoenix<BR/><BR/>Heavy rail (not including light rail or metro/subway) can be found:<BR/>NYC (LIRR, Metro, NJTransit)<BR/>Boston<BR/>Philadelphia-Trenton-Wilmington (Septa)<BR/>Baltimore<BR/>Washington<BR/>Chicago<BR/>Miami<BR/>Seattle<BR/>San Francisco/San Jose<BR/>Los Angeles<BR/>San Diego<BR/>Albuquerque<BR/>Dallas<BR/>Nashville<BR/>SLCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-61272127501458140162008-12-11T16:54:00.000-08:002008-12-11T16:54:00.000-08:00The US has between 3 and 5 metro areas larger than...The US has between 3 and 5 metro areas larger than Baghdad's: NY, LA, Chicago, and possibly Washington-Baltimore and the Bay Area. All of these have passenger rail services.Alon Levyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12195377309045184452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-8164910193463397142008-12-11T16:35:00.000-08:002008-12-11T16:35:00.000-08:00From our off-the-wall department: Baghdad is runni...From our off-the-wall department: <A HREF="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28176827#28156428" REL="nofollow"><I>Baghdad</I></A> is running passenger trains again, using Saddam's personal rail cars no less. How many cities in the US don't have any passenger train service at all?Rafaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05471957286484454765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-60906992868054113482008-12-11T14:19:00.000-08:002008-12-11T14:19:00.000-08:00@ luis d -I'm not 100% sure but I believe the $950...@ luis d -<BR/><BR/>I'm not 100% sure but I believe the $950 million reserved in AB3034 for HSR feeders, plus the $900 million available for completing planning and preliminary engineering do not require matching funds.<BR/><BR/>It's "only" the $8.1 billion reserved for actual construction of track segments that do. That does include tunneling and station construction, but perhaps not the maintenance facility. It will be needed for pre-qualifying trainset vendors, a step that arguably must happen before the bulk of the tracks can be laid.<BR/><BR/>Research on internet access and rail-wheel noise could also get started soon, though it's unclear if AB3034 provides enough vagueness to use any funds for that. The relatively small amount of money required might have to come from other sources, e.g. the internet portion of the stimulus bill, DOE, EPA, CARB, Caltrans, individual counties etc.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps the state assembly and senate could allow a modified definition of the segments so CHSRA can take advantage of federal HSR funds in HR2095, the Kerry-Specter bill and/or the upcoming stimulus bill to get cracking on those tunnels and stations after all.<BR/><BR/>Laying track and subsequent electrification does require more project-level planning, SF-SJ for example simply isn't ready to break ground yet (see Clem Tillier's excellent <A HREF="http://caltrain-hsr.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">Caltrain HSR compatibility blog</A> for details). At best, work could begin on selected grade separation projects relatively soon.<BR/><BR/>In the LOSSAN corridor, the priority should be to select and implement interoperable positive train control (PTC) to make it easier for FRA to grant that all-important "rule of special applicability" that will let CHSRA use off-the-shelf but non-compliant trainset technology from Europe or Asia.Rafaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05471957286484454765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-39448553415608707102008-12-11T13:38:00.000-08:002008-12-11T13:38:00.000-08:00Yeah, what I was wondering is if they could do any...Yeah, what I was wondering is if they could do anything NOW in terms of jobs. By 2011 we would hope that we weren't in this mess. <BR/><BR/>I think what could be done first is the work on the SF-SJ segment, grade seperating and electrifying it for Caltrain. <BR/><BR/>The problem is that no money can be spent until we have matching Federal, Private Funds. The thing we need to push for to get things moving is Federal funds. Once we have those we should have some Private Funds coming in with confidence. Even though we mentioned that Federal Funds will come in chunks, we need these chunks Immediately or Very Fast for our project to break ground and start repair work on the economy.<BR/><BR/>I'm sure if the CHSRA had more money they could work double time on their engineering work and we can get this thing started in two years instead of four (2011/2012).luis d.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04825999683258862540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-77838782005489973502008-12-11T13:30:00.000-08:002008-12-11T13:30:00.000-08:00@ Tom -yes, tunnel construction in Pacheco Pass, T...@ Tom -<BR/><BR/>yes, tunnel construction in Pacheco Pass, Tehachapi Pass and Soledad Canyon isn't controversial and could begin quickly. So could the tunnel in SF, provided the bickering sides can agree on how it will be funded.<BR/><BR/>Tunneling tends to take longer than expected because the small-scale geology often causes problems.<BR/><BR/>Other components that could get an early start are the TTC station, the new SJ Diridon (which now also has to accommodate BART), LA Union Station (with run-through tracks) and Anaheim ARTIC. Fresno is a thornier issue because UPRR isn't playing ball on the notion of a joint freight corridor through the city on its ROW (cp. Alameda corridor).<BR/><BR/>Some money could be poured into the development of affordable and reliable <I>terrestrial</I> broadband internet access for HSR passengers, e.g. based on multiple WiMax (802.16e) channels. Caltrain <A HREF="http://www.caltrain.com/news_2006_07_31_high-speed_internet.html" REL="nofollow">successfully trialed</A> such a system at 79mph but <A HREF="http://www.caltrain.com/faqs_wireless_access_proof_of_concept.html" REL="nofollow">could not afford to implement</A> it. Getting that up and running on all of the HSR feeder services would help build ridership (except Amtrak Coast Starlight between Salinas and SLO).<BR/><BR/>SNCF relies on <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt9SQ-HjtAQ" REL="nofollow">geostationary satellites</A> for its TGV WiFi service in the countryside, but that precludes latency-sensitive applications like video conferencing and multi-player games. If that sounds frivolous, consider that high ridership depends more on people being productive and/or entertained en route than it does on shaving off a few minutes of line haul time.<BR/><BR/>Another area for R&D investment is <A HREF="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BFW/is_/ai_55850244" REL="nofollow">rail-wheel</A> and <A HREF="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamstec.go.jp%2Fes%2Fjp%2Finfo%2Fsc2008%2FPDF%2Findustrial.pdf&ei=94RBSanFOIbW0AWR6rm1Bg&usg=AFQjCNEI9RmJ98uuSk3dz3BcxqcF-5ptVQ&sig2=MeQcdg9I7lVwTEPm-KHtKA" REL="nofollow">aerodynamic</A> noise reduction. Talgo (Spain) and the Japanese manufacturers are leaders in this area.<BR/><BR/>Achieving acceptable levels at speeds of e.g. 80mph through built-up areas would permit the operation of high speed cargo trains at night, not to mention sleeper trains between SF/Sacramento and San Diego some day.<BR/><BR/>Finally, the central maintenance facility, rumored to be sited at Castle Airport near Merced, could be constructed early. One issue with that is that the trainset vendor hasn't been chosen yet - Alstom and Talgo use articulated designs that require <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y_CzCM6-hw" REL="nofollow">special liftgate equipment</A>.Rafaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05471957286484454765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-39446210764766402122008-12-11T11:43:00.000-08:002008-12-11T11:43:00.000-08:00@ James - Our economy is certainly worse off than ...@ James - Our economy is certainly worse off than in previous downturns, but it's not time to call a it a depression just yet. That said, to help prevent a depression, major stimulous is needed for our economy, and HSR with all the construction jobs and permanent jobs associated with it (as well as the boost to commerce in general due to HSR) will certainly help. That said, it's too bad that it looks like 2011 is the start date for construction for CAHSR, which is a bit late to stimulate the economy. Seriously, one would hope that our economy would be turning around by then. Is there any way *something* could be started right away with CAHSR?Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16944312921354382166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-24770460930408102602008-12-11T07:57:00.000-08:002008-12-11T07:57:00.000-08:00Can you have a post encouraging people to vote in ...Can you have a post encouraging people to vote in the now official change.gov moderator to question the president-elect on what he would commit to in terms high-speed (and other passenger rail) and to remind him that there is high enthusiasm for it?<BR/><BR/>There have already been a few questions posted:<BR/><BR/>http://moderator.change.gov/?embed=http://change.gov/openforquestions#9/e=8&t=rail<BR/><BR/>Thank youUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06283327433036268201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-77472152999117343362008-12-10T21:26:00.000-08:002008-12-10T21:26:00.000-08:00Many many public works projects were built in the ...Many many public works projects were built in the last depression. Maybe CHSR can be built in this depression. Schwarzenegger and the California houses are having a tough time getting a budget. Highway projects are threatened with shutting down even though they are supported by bonds partially because the state does not have a budget and it can not sell the bonds. So hopefully this will all get sorted out and government bonds will continue to be functional as the next million people lose their jobs. All we can do is keep trying and hopefully keep our jobs.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17296808260419563238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-69563187360028188712008-12-10T21:16:00.000-08:002008-12-10T21:16:00.000-08:00One difference is that the Obama administration do...One difference is that the Obama administration does not have to carry all the water on the issue ... Kerry already has a proposal, and there is the basis for an effective working partnership between the large California caucus in the House and the large group of Northeastern Senators.<BR/><BR/>And, of course, if individual Representatives and Senators figure a bill is likely to pass in any event, they have a strong incentive to focus on getting something for their district and their state, rather than focusing on fighting the bill and risking coming away empty handed.<BR/><BR/>When you have enough individual Senators or Representatives using the line or station that they "won" for their state or district as a bragging point, then they all gain a political stake in the CAHSR, as the highest profile HSR project, proceeding reasonably smoothly.<BR/><BR/>Of course, they have to be aware that it <I>is</I> something they can brag about, so the more grass roots support from constituents, the better.BruceMcFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08502035881761277885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-75883930087338000512008-12-10T19:07:00.000-08:002008-12-10T19:07:00.000-08:00I can't find any sort of link to the interview, bu...I can't find any sort of link to the interview, but I just overheard on MSNBC one Ronald M. DeFeo, CEO of construction company <A HREF="http://www.terex.com/main.php" REL="nofollow">Terex,</A> saying the number one priority for government infrastructure spending should be high-speed rail between major metropolitan areas.<BR/><BR/>We need more people like that saying those sort of things in the news, and Obama needs to be listening.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17237464626091579237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-49109884546919671032008-12-10T18:36:00.000-08:002008-12-10T18:36:00.000-08:00Those are good points. There are reasons to believ...Those are good points. There are reasons to believe 2009 will indeed be different than 1993 - gas was <A HREF="http://www.mtc.ca.gov/maps_and_data/datamart/stats/gasprice.htm" REL="nofollow">around $1.25/gal then</A>, and while we might actually see that soon, the last six years and especially this summer have shown us such cheap prices aren't going to last.<BR/><BR/>Plus, in spring 1993, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer were fresh(woman) senators, whereas now they wield immense power within that body. Nancy Pelosi was a 4th term member of Congress from SF; now she's Speaker of the House.<BR/><BR/>And yes, we have something neither Florida nor Texas ever had - a dedicated source of funding.<BR/><BR/>Still, the experience of 1993 shows that we can't take anything for granted in 2009.Robert Cruickshankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06906581839066570472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-46888414632636370742008-12-10T17:49:00.000-08:002008-12-10T17:49:00.000-08:00Well one big difference is we have 9billion on our...Well one big difference is we have 9billion on our side already and I dont the Republicans are going to anything this midterm.It would be nice if get a nice secure fund upfront as it would help alot with the private money. And there was no real California high speed rail plan in 93 only some concept study never the less we need to keep banging away till we get our money secure. I think DiFi will get us our money!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com