Posted on 07/09/2008 6:43:10 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has placed his support behind a costly high-speed rail system in California.
Schwarzenegger told NBC11 he wants California to lead the way in transporting commuters across the state at near-record speeds while reducing global warming at the same time.
Critics have said the state's proposed high-speed rail system is too costly and too good to be true, NBC11's Mike Luery reported.
On the very spot where the Transcontinental Railroad was established nearly 140 years ago, Schwarzenegger told Luery that a less-than-three-hour trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles represents the type of progress that can take place in the Golden State.
"I think we need high speed rail," Schwarzenegger said. "If you think right now our trains in America are running the same speed as 100 years ago. That's not progress. I think we can do much better than that."
Under the state's high-speed rail plan, trains will travel at 225 mph.
At first they will travel from The Bay Area to Burbank, and then eventually from San Diego to Sacramento. The ticket might cost about $50.
Part of the goal is to reduce the state's carbon footprint by taking cars off the road.
However, voters must approve $10 billion Proposition 1 this fall.
Even Schwarzenegger admits the proposal would only pay for about one quarter of the cost of the entire train system. That is why opponents are determined to see it stopped dead in its tracks.
"It just doesn't pencil out," said state Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks. "It's $40 billion just in construction. That's more than $1,000 for every man, woman and child in this state -- all for a train that will go from L.A. to San Francisco in about two hours longer than it takes to fly there."
McClintock called the system a boondoggle and said that the money would be better spent improving California's highways.
I only support a subsidized high speed rail system if it can get me from SF to LV so I can lose bundles.....
Cool, I’m pretty sure the state can take out another loan to pay for it. /s
That makes a lot more sense than this monster.
What’s another $50 or $60 Billion of debt when it’s all done.
California is loaded, right?
Well, at least the legislators and Gub are.
On what is another question.
actually, you have a better shot of seeing an LA to LV connection, let the states share the cost..
This is the reason why y’all are going for bankruptcy out there.
Jaa, and the hi-speed rail from LA to Las Vegas has been talked about for 25+ years. Wait until the bunnies and bugs
water melon crew get into it and it’ll be 100 years before you see a tie and rail laid down, if then.
Just...amazing...CA really is in a state of suspended reality, what’s another 10 billion in debt here or there among friends?
How about tamping out even ONE of the dozens of forest fires that are currently raging in your state, Gov’nuh?
and this comrades,
from der furhrer that flys daily from los anhaylays to sacramento,
and owns a half dozen bummers.
I can't laugh loud enough for this one.
It’s not bankruptcy, in this PC age, it’s insolvency. :-)
willie green wil be pleased.
That socialist POS can take his high speed rail and stick it where the sun doesn’t shine!
On the very spot where the Transcontinental Railroad was established nearly 140 years ago, Schwarzenegger told Luery that a less-than-three-hour trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles represents the type of progress that can take place in the Golden State.
I would ask him if he is gonna give up his private jet and ride the train. What do you think? lol
The “Best States for Business” rankings came out today. Texas is #1, of course, while California ranked #25. You’d think Ahhnold would have something other to suggest than another expensive scheme to add to the $15 billion dollar budget deficit.
To the rider maybe but it will probably cost an additional $500 to the taxpayer per ride. Public transportation fares typically cover only 10% of the operating costs. You can already get from the SF Bay Area to Burbank in 50 minutes flying Southwest Airlines. About 6 months ago I did that on Southwest Airlines for $50. And they paid taxes and turned a profit and didn't charge the taxpayers a dime. Airliners get much better fuel economy per passenger mile than the typical Prius hybrid and they do it at 10 times the speed. Flying is the greenest transportation technology ever invented.
$14 bill a year in services to people in the country illegally and no ideas how to cut the deficit.
he scams.
i voted for him once, but not twice.
i regret it.
i should have followed my intuition after i read the story about the terminator
and his buds having sex train at gold’s gym on the beach.
it was disgusting and he never refuted the front page los angeles times article.
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