tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post7911259835965529831..comments2023-10-30T09:03:07.163-07:00Comments on California High Speed Rail Blog: The View from Washington, DCRobert Cruickshankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06906581839066570472noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-72629537827132693232008-08-02T21:10:00.000-07:002008-08-02T21:10:00.000-07:00The Feds studied HSR during the Clinton administra...The Feds studied HSR during the Clinton administration, including a possible HSR line in California, and concluded that while something like an Acela might make sense in some applications (certainly not a SF-San Diego route), really high speed rail simply doesn't add up. The study is here: http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/content/515<BR/><BR/>The cost/benefit figures being presented in order to get support for this project are simply B.S. --- the only way this line will ever experience the ridership projected is if flights between SF and LAX are outlawed! As for making a profit that will pay for expansion of the system --- give me a break!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-48401552916283638012008-07-20T13:05:00.000-07:002008-07-20T13:05:00.000-07:00"^^^ that was for spokker"Much of my comment was t..."^^^ that was for spokker"<BR/><BR/>Much of my comment was tongue in cheek. In any case, fight fire with fire, my friend.Spokkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03244298044953214810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-42746605155960425142008-07-20T11:14:00.000-07:002008-07-20T11:14:00.000-07:00^^^ that was for spokker^^^ that was for spokkerBrandon in Californiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14796810137823230737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-75219225782494239232008-07-20T11:13:00.000-07:002008-07-20T11:13:00.000-07:00^^^ Throwing mud and seeing what sticks?The merit ...^^^ Throwing mud and seeing what sticks?<BR/><BR/>The merit of such comments have zero value without proof or substantive evidence. <BR/><BR/>I challenge you to provide a more coherent argument.... something worthy of peoples attention.<BR/><BR/>Anything short of that are 'trollish' comments.Brandon in Californiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14796810137823230737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-56227405071301707562008-07-20T11:01:00.000-07:002008-07-20T11:01:00.000-07:00I hope the California High Speed Rail Authority an...<I>I hope the California High Speed Rail Authority and whoever else is behind this project is corrupt as can be. Maybe then it would actually get built. If someone is getting rich off of this project, God bless 'em. They've earned it,</I><BR/><BR/>Rest assured you will get your wish. At a minimum, passenger rail projects in California are 10 times more expensive on a per-mile basis relative to comparable projects in Germany, Spain, or France. And the major principals in the CAHSR have never delivered a project without 100% cost overruns.<BR/><BR/><I>With all of the shady backdoor dealings going on in politics, I'd like to see it result in some usable transit infrastructure for the state.</I><BR/><BR/>The main goal is enrichment of the contracting lobby. If usable transit service results, it would be entirely by luck or accident. In the case of Rod Diridon ("Father of VTA Light Rail" and now CAHSR head honcho) billions were spent on an utterly inutile light rail system, with the end result that transit ridership in Santa Clara county is lower now than it was 2 decades ago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-33046100975120326642008-07-19T22:36:00.000-07:002008-07-19T22:36:00.000-07:00I hope the California High Speed Rail Authority an...I hope the California High Speed Rail Authority and whoever else is behind this project is corrupt as can be. Maybe then it would actually get built. <BR/><BR/>With all of the shady backdoor dealings going on in politics, I'd like to see it result in some usable transit infrastructure for the state. <BR/><BR/>If someone is getting rich off of this project, God bless 'em. They've earned it, as long as their corrupt project gets me to SF from LA in 3 hours or less.Spokkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03244298044953214810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-11063359307176041412008-07-19T22:17:00.000-07:002008-07-19T22:17:00.000-07:00Now after the stupid password go high speed No AN...Now after the stupid password go high speed No ANNO comentsCALhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17918511298547096883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-43207002208113455522008-07-19T22:00:00.000-07:002008-07-19T22:00:00.000-07:00IF you dont have the balls to post your name then ...IF you dont have the balls to post your name then your a pussy necon/ or an egg-head Stanford old man!I dont care about worthless Palto-alto or menlo park ..pigs MILLIONS<BR/>of people will enjoy and use this system ..YES ON PROP 1 .and we are<BR/>GOING TO WIN!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-46417598906403904912008-07-19T18:57:00.000-07:002008-07-19T18:57:00.000-07:00I want to support HSR but this mess of rail ops in...I want to support HSR but this mess of rail ops in the state is not worthy of a dime. There is the HSR, whatever you think of them, and the Caltrans Rail Div, and even the PUC for grade seps. This has got to be better organized and managed. Do you want a legacy boondoggle like the 'big dig' or something to be proudly associated with in the future when they write your epitath.<BR/><BR/>The whole mess needs to stop until it gets a better re write.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-27108786753760268942008-07-18T19:52:00.000-07:002008-07-18T19:52:00.000-07:00The biggest problem at the federal level will be c...The biggest problem at the federal level will be convincing senators from rural states to support a California petition for matching funds. They may refuse to do so unless there's something in that omnibus public works bill for their states, too - which is fair enough, I suppose.<BR/><BR/>The best approach might be to reserve matching funds for each state in proportion to its population. Eligible projects must aim to reduce the dependence of that state's transportation sector on fossil oil and preferably, also reduce its fossil carbon footprint. New or expanded services should connect to existing ones rather than duplicate them.<BR/><BR/>For example, a state might choose to ask Amtrak to run additional trains on short routes within its territory. Another might pursue improved local transit for its largest population center. Others may want bicycle lane miles or, construct a regional network linking multiple states. The type of project should be informed by the local situation, one size does not fit all.<BR/><BR/>States would be given a reasonable amount of time - e.g. 4 years - to prepare and file an EIR/EIS with the appropriate federal authorities, with additional time available for complex proposals and those that involve multiple states.<BR/><BR/>Failure to file in time would mean the matching funds are forfeited. Note that states (incl. counties and cities) would still have to pony up an amount at least equal to that provided by Congress. Any private participation would be over-and-above that.Rafaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05471957286484454765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-6644869882948685522008-07-18T17:21:00.000-07:002008-07-18T17:21:00.000-07:00Brandon-The report should inform the surface trans...Brandon-<BR/><BR/>The report should inform the surface transportation reauthorization bill next year, which provides a five-year guideline for annual funding. Up until now, this process has basically excluded passenger trains.<BR/><BR/>Amtrak is supposed to operate under its own authorization, but the last one expired in 2002. The House and Senate both passed new versions by veto-proof majorities, and conferees are currently working out the differences. For summaries, see:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.narprail.org/cms/index.php/resources/more/s_294/" REL="nofollow">http://www.narprail.org/cms/index.php/resources/more/s_294/</A><BR/><A HREF="http://www.narprail.org/cms/index.php/resources/more/hr_6003/" REL="nofollow">http://www.narprail.org/cms/index.php/resources/more/hr_6003/</A><BR/><BR/>As you can see, modest amounts would be available for state matching grants. But even if the bill becomes law, it's a "hunting license" that merely provides guidelines for annual appropriations.<BR/><BR/>The problem is that Amtrak and passenger rail is paid for out of the general fund, which is hard in the current budgetary climate. That's why it's so important to create a dedicated funding source for capital investments in passenger trains, just as we have for other modes (only, it needs to be sustainable; the Highway Trust Fund is quickly depleting). This is what we hope to address with surface transportation reauthorization next year.Matthew Melzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16918563599426381098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-21825957429253284782008-07-18T17:02:00.000-07:002008-07-18T17:02:00.000-07:00Jason48 is posted his samr commenton other sites.....Jason48 is posted his samr comment<BR/>on other sites...hum ...a full time<BR/>job??? from a certain group of people?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-81516441993400799872008-07-18T16:57:00.000-07:002008-07-18T16:57:00.000-07:00To teh blog author:Can you convey the status of Fe...To teh blog author:<BR/>Can you convey the status of Federal efforts concerning Federal funds that may or would be available to teh CHSR system? <BR/><BR/>A report recommends $9 billion. Is that all there is right now from the Feds? A report? <BR/><BR/>What has the House or Senate done lately? I thought they passed some legislation authorizing funding. Or, are they waiting to see what happens in California on November 4th first?<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Jason48,<BR/>Your claims are not justified. Matthew is right.Brandon in Californiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14796810137823230737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-48497601865071091932008-07-18T14:44:00.000-07:002008-07-18T14:44:00.000-07:00As I said in the thread below, the obstructionist ...As I said in the thread below, the obstructionist Mid-Peninsula NIMBYs are obviously fighting tooth-and-nail to stop CAHSRA and Caltrain from combining their efforts (and saving taxpayer money in the process) to deliver safer, faster, cleaner, and more efficient train service to the Bay Area. Unfortunately, this obstructionism harms the rest of the state, too.<BR/><BR/>The $58m has been spent on necessary environmental and planning work for the largest public works project in CA history, within the scope of tough regulations. Let's see you do it for less.<BR/><BR/>Jason48's concerns about the process (and I'm sure he's sincere in thinking it's flawed) have been addressed in previous posts. The rest is partisan vitriol (on what should be a non-partisan issue) and shameless fear-mongering.<BR/><BR/>Robert was right: HSR foes at this point have no legitimate arguments, only FUD.Matthew Melzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16918563599426381098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-41852652739234263822008-07-18T14:13:00.000-07:002008-07-18T14:13:00.000-07:00Senator Ashburn deserves the legislator star award...Senator Ashburn deserves the legislator star award of the year for having the guts to take on the gang running the California High Speed Rail Authority, which has wasted $58 millions and 8 years, while doing nothing more than designing a project that is intended to enhance the wealth of insiders and allow San Jose and San Francisco control where and how the project is to be built.<BR/>The un-holy alliance with CalTrain, seeks to gain free grade crossings and electrification along the peninsula while destroying the communities of San Mateo, Burlingame, Atherton, Menlo Park, San Carlos etc. The Authority doesn't listen to any public comments but just goes on with its own selfish plans.<BR/>The cost estimates are un-believable. The project will cost $100 billion, not 40 billion. The ridership will be more like 25 million per year not the projected 117,000,000 per year.<BR/>The Senate committee led by Senator Lowenthal issues a 35 page scathing report tearing apart the authority and Kopp, the leader of the Authority, simply wilts under the questioning of Senator Ashburn. Where is your business plan he asks. Kopp can't answer. Ashburn fires off "you don't have a business plan".<BR/>$58 millions gone, an EIR/EIS not valid because they can't use the Union Pacific right of way. How much more can be wrong with this project.<BR/>Still the Democratic majority refuses to clean house and get a proper process started.<BR/>So don't be laying the blame on Ashburn or the Republicans; lay the blame where it belongs, on the backs of Rod Diridon, famous father of the light rail fiasco in Santa Clara county, Kopp and Morshed, who are nothing more than pawns for the political interests in San Francisco and San Jose.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-88221115525777710262008-07-18T11:12:00.000-07:002008-07-18T11:12:00.000-07:00Current subsidies and tax advantages are minor. If...Current subsidies and tax advantages are minor. If passenger rail qualified for 80-20 federal matches the way other modes do, California alone could have gotten $8 billion for the $2 billion it has pumped into its Amtrak network since 1990. What we need is for states to be able to leverage federal investments in a way that is not biased against trains, which is where the smart money is and will be in the future.<BR/><BR/>Transportation funding has always been distorted in some way, so there's no level playing field. At the same time, the fundamentals of energy and the environment are changing profoundly. That gives passenger trains a significant advantage over other modes in terms of external benefits, yet trains are still hampered by federal policy.<BR/><BR/>It's appalling that the current framework discourages state investment in intercity trains, yet 14 states have forged ahead anyway. Once we fix the inherent bias, more will follow, and in a big way.Matthew Melzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16918563599426381098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4263762637946594105.post-40161573115579373822008-07-18T11:03:00.000-07:002008-07-18T11:03:00.000-07:00There's no question that the federal government ca...<I>There's no question that the federal government can end modal discrimination</I><BR/><BR/>Be careful what you wish for. There are no taxes and significant subsidies for passenger rail. There are reasons for that but calls for a level playing field do not benefit passenger rail service.Rob Dawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10042154106850545479noreply@blogger.com