Posted on 10/03/2009 6:18:08 AM PDT by Willie Green
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced on Friday that his state would build the first bullet train in the nation, a project that would provide a 10-billion-dollar economic boost to the state.
"I think it is disgraceful for America to be so far behind when it comes to infrastructure," Schwarzenegger told a press conference.
"In Europe and Asian countries, they're traveling now up to 300miles or 480 kilometers (per hour on bullet trains), while we're traveling on our trains at the same speed as 100 years ago. That is inexcusable. America must catch up," he said.
The governor added that to build the 800-mile (1280-kilometer) fast-speed rail from San Diego to San Francisco, California had applied for 4.7 billion dollars in federal stimulus money.
If built, the train can whisk people from Los Angeles to San Francisco in 2 hours and 40 minutes, create hundreds of thousands of jobs and bring in revenue of billions of dollars.
Schwarzenegger said California deserved to get more than half of the 8 billion dollars in federal stimulus money set aside for high-speed rail development because it was further along in planning than other states and is ready to break ground in 2011, a year before the federal deadline for getting the money.
"Those stimulus dollars will go further in California than in any other state because California has pledged to match -- dollar for dollar -- all money received (from the federal government), " Schwarzenegger promised.
In November, California voters approved issuing 9.95 billion dollars in bonds to fund construction of high-speed rail. More money would come from state, local and private matching funds.
California is broke. The USA is going broke. Are high speed bullet trains free?
Will it have external handles so that the illegals can ride up to SF?
About a year ago this derailment occurred in a 40mph zone http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2081231/posts?q=1&;page=1
It was later described as being one of the more costlier train accidents in CA history.
So why do we seek a 1960s technology for a traffic problem that doesn’t exist?
I hear they are going to name this after Murtha.
HAW HAW HAW! What makes you think the "Bullet Train" is immune to that kind of nonsense? You can bet there will be extreme security theater for this boondoggle. It's not even possible for it to make it's schedule because of all the intervening stops, and if they drop the stops, the riders will have to get to the central stations in...(drumroll please)...CARS!
It takes me roughly 6 hours to drive to LA from SF, and when I get there I'm at my destination and I've got my CAR. It's about the same amount of time to fly there, rent a car, and go where i'm going. For points south I just fly and rent a car. Similarly for Seattle/Portland/Reno/Las Vegas/Phoenix etc. Even Albuquerque isn't much further.
California is broke. The USA is going broke. Are high speed bullet trains free?
No, but they're more economical than having 37 million broke Kalifornicators trying to pedal their bicycles on the freeways.
Other countries maybe do not have hundreds of boards and commissions spending billions on six-figure "salaries" for California's unemployed political hacks?
To be fair, Schwarzenkennedy did try to rid the state of a few of them and I think the Dems said OK to get rid of one of them.
Due to lack of maintenance roads to the bullet train stations will likely be impassable by the time the bullet train is ready.
Can you share those numbers with us?
About a year ago this derailment occurred in a 40mph zone
It was later described as being one of the more costlier train accidents in CA history.
So why do we seek a 1960s technology for a traffic problem that doesnt exist?
Actually, that's an excellent example of why passenger service shouldn't share older technology with heavy freight.
True high-speed rail technology (120~190 mph) requires a much better, modern railbed that shouldn't be used for heavy freight.
What is California financing this with? Food Stamps
Not to worry, the fascists in this country will find some excuse to have citizens line up and wait to be searched.
Arnie, in the US, we travel on things called "planes" that can cruise at 500 miles per hour. And they leave every large city in California every 30 or 60 minutes for every other large city in CA or surrounding states. Haven't you heard?
From you, dear Citizen. Thank you very much.
Arnie, in the US, we travel on things called "planes" that can cruise at 500 miles per hour. And they leave every large city in California every 30 or 60 minutes for every other large city in CA
Those short-hop airflights have horrible fuel efficiency.
And just getting through Airport Security is often twice as long as the flight!!!
When I ride Amtrak, it’s just show up and get on the train. There is an automated kiosk to buy the ticket or you can pay the conductor when you’re on board. Security is far, far less intrusive.
Comparing the travel time from my home to Chicago. (The train station is at the airport, so everything else is equal.)
Air - 90 minutes for security and boarding. 20 minutes in the air. Travel from O’hare to the loop.
Rail - 10 minutes before boarding. 80 minutes travel. Walk out of the station in the loop.
probably exceed the Murtha airport.
If it is such a good deal, the WHY hasn’t anyone already built it?
A $10b boost to lawyers, labor unions, and government workers creating a $60b black hole for taxpayers. Remember the "Big Dig" was originally planned to cost $2.6b wound up costing $14.6b.
San Jose airport is 12 minutes from my house. Getting through security there is, on average, about a 10 minute process now. Depends on the time of day, but TSA has done a good job making it (almost) painless.
I still seethe inside every time I have to remove my shoes because of islamist neanderthals, though.
Per-passenger fuel efficiency may not be great, but without rails to ride on, you can take those things called "planes" to any destination you want.
Not without an airport to land at, you can't.
(Unless you're planning on regularly scheduled landings on the Interstate somewhere.)
You take away my rails, then I'll take away your runways.
Tit for tat.
Sheeeesh....
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