Why they hardly got started!
Posted on 10/15/2018 5:08:28 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
Jerry Brown did not invent the idea of a high-speed rail system to connect Northern and Southern California.
It was voted on by the state Legislature and ratified by voters years before he returned to the governor’s office in 2011. But for the last eight years, as cost estimates have skyrocketed and federal and private sector funding for the project has evaporated, Brown has become high-speed rail’s most persistent defender.
Only weeks away from the election to replace him, neither candidate for governor appears to share the depth of Brown’s commitment to a statewide rail system.
Fellow Democrat Gavin Newsom only talks about it under duress, and has indicated that he would adopt a much more gradual and incremental approach. Republican John Cox wants to scrap it altogether. Polling shows that public support has dropped considerably since Californians voted to authorize the project 10 years ago.
As a result of the changing circumstances, several of the California Influencers, a group of policy and political experts, advise Brown’s successor to proceed with caution.
“The next governor should conduct a soup-to-nuts project review to re-evaluate the project’s current projected costs and whether those costs are outweighed by the project’s intended benefits,” said University of California President Janet Napolitano, who noted many of the project’s potential economic and quality-of-life advantages. “Such a review would improve the public’s confidence in high speed rail.
“In short, the next governor should take a deep breath, have a project review conducted, and then decide whether to proceed.” she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at fresnobee.com ...
Willie Green turns it thumbs down.
This boondoggle has wasted enough money and it will never be built.
Time to hit the EJECT button on the radical DemocRATS destroying the state.
Will the HSRR go through Fresno?
We could then call it the Willie Green Memorial FR RR.
Ping.
Its not just the right of way; its the dedicated tracks and rolling stock.
Nobody talks about keeping the right-of-ways just in case. The open spaces between the highways are easy. The crowded downtowns will need some expensive digging.
Ping.
The purpose of the High Speed Rail plan was mainly to have a big pot of money to grab from. To do any construction at all, anything constructed has to be done as a cost over-run. Brilliant, until it dies and someone has to be held accountable. Jerry Brown doesn’t count because he will be dead soon and wants to leave a legacy.
Why they hardly got started!
Sunken Cost fallacy in action.
It’s just insane when a few more reserve Air Force bases could be converted into new regional airports for a tiny fraction of the cost. A lot less money in that for the contractors who contribute heavily to Democrats, but hey - ya gotta cut somewhere. :)
WTF is it about lefties and too-too twains? I give up...
Every time I read about California’s foolish tinkering with speed rail I think of this . . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDOI0cq6GZM
Sad yet funny.
Lord help the once great Golden State.
Regards.
The liberal fascination with nineteenth century transportation technology is morbid considering the money on this train can be put to better use improving airports and expanding freeways.
“Soup to nuts project review” Well now there’s a technical term for you. But it is California after all.
Tell me again what the benefits are.
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