Posted on 11/27/2011 10:25:17 AM PST by mdittmar
Building First Segment Will Employ More Than 100,000 People over Next Five Years
WASHINGTON - U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today awarded a $928.6 million grant to the California High-Speed Rail Authority for initial construction of California High-Speed Rail. Construction will begin next year in Fresno, creating tens of thousands of jobs in California.
“California’s population will grow by 60 percent over the next 40 years,” said Secretary LaHood. “Investing in a green, job creating high-speed rail network is less expensive and more practical than paying for all of the expansions to already congested highways and airports that would be necessary to accommodate the state’s projected population boom.”
Today’s grant, when combined with voter-approved state support and previously-awarded federal dollars, will fund the construction of the first usable segment of the California system in the Central Valley. In the recently released business plan, the Authority embraced a phased implementation similar to those used for international systems. The first construction project will put more than 100,000 people to work during the next five years. Over the course of the network’s construction, more than one million jobs are expected to be created, and the economic activity spurred by the new system is expected to add up to 450,000 new non-high-speed rail jobs to the California economy by 2040.
California’s 220-mph high-speed rail system will connect to the rest of the state’s transportation network, improving local, regional and international mobility. Travelers moving throughout the state will connect to local transit and commuter service to reach their final destinations, reducing the need to add more highway trips through a state that is home to six of the ten most congested metropolitan areas in the nation. A recent study by the Texas Transportation Institute found Californians consumed more than 38 million gallons of fuel while stuck in traffic last year.
California is one of thirty-two states across the U.S. and the District of Columbia that are laying the foundation for high-speed rail corridors that will link Americans with faster and more energy-efficient travel options. To date, the U.S. Department of Transportation has invested $10.1 billion to put American communities on track towards new and expanded rail access and improved reliability, speed, and frequency of existing service.
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I imagine that will be approved soon,hey,it's only our money;)
Obama’s gift to California’s boondoggle.
To the bustling metropolises of Borden and Corcoran.
California needs a Bullet Train To Nowhere like it needs a bullet in the head!
Obama’s gift to California’s boondoggle.
To the bustling metropolises of Borden and Corcoran.
California needs a Bullet Train To Nowhere like it needs a bullet in the head!
How will high speed rail uncongest highways and airports? I though you'd need lots of riders to do that. High speed rail is a union gift in return for votes and kickbacks.
Yep. Is it a union pander for votes...as if they need a pander.
Yep. Is it a union pander for votes...as if they need a pander.
Total economic collapse inches closer
I thought Congress cut off funding for this White Elephant. Obama ignored Congress anyway.
This is simply a political reward for Obama’s Democratic supporters in California.
Watch out for the cost overruns on this. With union feather-bedding and what have you, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
I thought Congress cut off funding for this White Elephant. Obama ignored Congress anyway.
This is simply a political reward for Obama’s Democratic supporters in California.
Watch out for the cost overruns on this. With union feather-bedding and what have you, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
I thought Congress cut off funding for this White Elephant. Obama ignored Congress anyway.
This is simply a political reward for Obama’s Democratic supporters in California.
Watch out for the cost overruns on this. With union feather-bedding and what have you, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
I thought Congress cut off funding for this White Elephant. Obama ignored Congress anyway.
This is simply a political reward for Obama’s Democratic supporters in California.
Watch out for the cost overruns on this. With union feather-bedding and what have you, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
I thought Congress cut off funding for this White Elephant. Obama ignored Congress anyway.
This is simply a political reward for Obama’s Democratic supporters in California.
Watch out for the cost overruns on this. With union feather-bedding and what have you, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
I thought Congress cut off funding for this White Elephant. Obama ignored Congress anyway.
This is simply a political reward for Obama’s Democratic supporters in California.
Watch out for the cost overruns on this. With union feather-bedding and what have you, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
Based on current "high speed rail" expenses in other venues, $928 million will pay for about 50 feet.
Based on current "high speed rail" expenses in other venues, $928 million will pay for about 50 feet.
Somewhere, Willie Green is sobbing with joy!
Somewhere, Willie Green is sobbing with joy!
Somewhere, Willie Green is sobbing with joy!
I’d be surprised if they manage to finish the showpiece track to nowhere from Borden to Corcoran on time and on schedule!
Reverse course.
That's 10 intermodal transfer situations.
Compare to visting a distant city by hopping in car and driving self to destination and walking in the door. Then returning.
There's 2 intermodals in that one and no wait time.
The guys at DOT are passing out money to their transportation design buddies. Nothing will come of this. High speed rail is something whose time has come and gone (1948) and new and superior technology is racing ahead.
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