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Press Fails to Disclose 70 Percent California Bullet-Train Cost Overrun
newsbusters.org ^ | 3/9/2018 | Tom Blumer

Posted on 03/10/2018 7:24:22 AM PST by rktman

Friday, California's High-Speed Rail Authority published its draft 2018 Business Plan. Its 800-mile bullet-train project's estimated cost is now $77.3 billion, up from $64 billion two years ago, and its final completion has been pushed out another four years to 2033. The current estimate is now more than 70 percent above the $45 billion presented to voters in 2008.

The related Associated Press story failed to disclose that original cost estimate, as did three leading California newspapers.

The Authority's draft discloses that "More than $3 billion has been expended to date on construction in the Central Valley and planning for the wider system," so genuine progress towards theoretical completion is still well under 10 percent. The plan also presents a range of estimated completion costs from $63.2 billion to $98.1 billion.

The latest news confirms, as I wrote in a 2013 post, that this project will "make the $22 billion (make that $24.3 billion) 'Big Dig' in Massachusetts look like a petty cash disbursement."

The Los Angeles Times did recount much of the horrid cost-estimate history, though not completely accurately:

(Excerpt) Read more at newsbusters.org ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: boondoggle; bulletrain; chaching; costoverrun; fiasco; hsr; tajmahal; traintonowhere; wastefraudabuse; whiteelephant; williegreen
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Come on now. Providing jobs for folks is one of jer browns many accomplishments. And I'm sure there's no good old boy activity occurring on the project.
1 posted on 03/10/2018 7:24:22 AM PST by rktman
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To: rktman

Wouldn’t be surprised if the project itself was a slush fund for unions and illegals.


2 posted on 03/10/2018 7:26:30 AM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (If the illegal immigration issue were Social Security, it'd be privatized by now.)
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To: rktman

NON print:

https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/tom-blumer/2018/03/09/press-fails-disclose-70-percent-california-bullet-train-cost-overrun


3 posted on 03/10/2018 7:26:53 AM PST by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
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To: rktman

Link to maps of route:

http://www.hsr.ca.gov/Newsroom/Multimedia/maps.html


4 posted on 03/10/2018 7:27:14 AM PST by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

I’d be surprised if it WASN’T! :)

plus billions for politicians and whatever organized crime group is strongest right now out there.

Dont know who runs the unions these days.


5 posted on 03/10/2018 7:29:58 AM PST by dp0622 (The Left should know saying Syrian rebels in anost back in Trump is kicked out of office, it is WAR!)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
Wouldn’t be surprised if the project itself was a slush fund for unions and illegals.

Isn't that standard operating procedure?

6 posted on 03/10/2018 7:33:21 AM PST by Pearls Before Swine ("Married with children.")
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To: dp0622

Hmmmm. Suppose any of jer’s union buddies are helping themselves to some bonuses?


7 posted on 03/10/2018 7:34:35 AM PST by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
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To: rktman

Nah, too direct.

Unless you meant illegal “bonuses”, then we agree :)

But then again, they are so arrogant and blatant, they might not care if it’s in the open.


8 posted on 03/10/2018 7:36:25 AM PST by dp0622 (The Left should know saying Syrian rebels in anost back in Trump is kicked out of office, it is WAR!)
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To: rktman

Its “only” $77 billion.

So what if its a boondoggle, taj mahal, white elephant and cost overrun fiasco?

We still love our bullet train.


9 posted on 03/10/2018 7:38:01 AM PST by goldstategop ((In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Forever) I)
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To: rktman

The newspaper people have to at least believe that the Democrats are giving them money in order for them to print lies by omission like that.


10 posted on 03/10/2018 7:38:28 AM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: dp0622

“.... arrogant and blatant, they might not care if it’s in the open.” Defines dems most of the time. Except that “mare” in Nashville that was boinking her married body guard. She must have really pushed someone too far to get popped like she did. Even at that, pretty sure she got less of a punishment than one of us would have.


11 posted on 03/10/2018 7:39:29 AM PST by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
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To: rktman

The purpose of the Democrat Party is to elect thieves to public office so that they have access to the public treasuries in order to loot them.


12 posted on 03/10/2018 7:39:58 AM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: rktman

I don’t think most Californians need the press to inform them of cost overruns. It’s pretty much common knowledge.


13 posted on 03/10/2018 7:41:16 AM PST by GSWarrior
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To: rktman

I didn’t even know about that one! :)

Sounds hysterical lol


14 posted on 03/10/2018 7:44:39 AM PST by dp0622 (The Left should know saying Syrian rebels in anost back in Trump is kicked out of office, it is WAR!)
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To: rktman

In the 1930’s, Stalin wanted the Moscow subway to be a spectacular showcase of his ‘progressive’ system. This while his people starved and society collapsed. Sounds familiar.


15 posted on 03/10/2018 7:48:38 AM PST by Spok ("What're you going to believe-me or your own eyes?" -Marx (Groucho))
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To: Spok

The Moscow Metro got built on time and on budget.

Government isn’t capable of doing any infrastructure project like that on those terms today.


16 posted on 03/10/2018 7:52:10 AM PST by goldstategop ((In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Forever) I)
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To: dp0622

Apparently they padded the boy friends OT hours (like $130,000 worth over time) and took trips/vacations on the city and states dime. Super blatant supposedly.


17 posted on 03/10/2018 7:57:35 AM PST by rktman (Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
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To: rktman

WOW! THAT’S arrogance!!

They want to pretend we’re a monarchy but we aren’t (at least not yet)


18 posted on 03/10/2018 7:59:36 AM PST by dp0622 (The Left should know saying Syrian rebels in anost back in Trump is kicked out of office, it is WAR!)
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To: rktman

I only care about the part of that $77 billion that non-Californians pony up through the DOT, EPA, DofAg, etc.


19 posted on 03/10/2018 7:59:38 AM PST by VanShuyten ("...that all the donkeys were dead. I know nothing as to the fate of the less valuable animals.")
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To: rktman

btt


20 posted on 03/10/2018 8:00:54 AM PST by KSCITYBOY (The media is corrupt)
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