Posted on 05/05/2024 12:43:32 PM PDT by george76
The High Speed Rail Authority shared an update on the Fresno River Viaduct ..
They were widely mocked with Elon Musk and Billy Markus piling in ..
California has been mercilessly mocked for boasting about completing the 'world's most pointless crossing' to nowhere at a cost of $11billion.
The California High Speed Rail Authority shared an update on the Fresno River Viaduct in Madera County last week, proudly saying it was one of the 'first completed high-speed rail structures'.
The Tweet did not get the reaction officials were hoping for with Elon Musk and Dogecoin creator Billy Markus piling in to mock the project.
The Viaduct has taken nine years to build and has cost taxpayers $11 billion as part of the state's long-delayed, bullet-train plan attempting to link San Francisco to Los Angeles.
Commenting on photos showing the bridge stopping at only 1,600ft long with either end floating unconnected in the air, Markus tweeted: 'This is the most remarkable human achievement ever.'
Sharing the rail authority's tweet he added: '1600 feet of high speed rail after 9 years and 11 billion dollars it takes about 5 minutes to walk 1600 feet so a high speed rail for that is a really big deal.'
He added: 'Wow so impressive, can’t wait until year 2400 for this to finish for 700 quadrillion dollars.'
Musk then chimed in, adding a crying face emoji.
...
So far $11 billion of taxpayer money has been sunk into the scheme which aims to connect Los Angeles to San Francisco.
...
It will take an estimated $100 billion more to finish the project and link San Francisco to Los Angeles with many calling for the project to be scrapped.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Well yeah...basically...
Okay...so after carefully reading the article, because it is not very well stated within, I have come to the conclusion that the $11 BILLION figure they threw out is the amount of money spent on the entire project thus far...not just this bridge.
Not that that excuses any of this boondoggle.
The photo of it is incredibly damning and will probably get a lot of use.
“The Bridge To Nowhere”.
$6.875 million per foot.
This is the federally backed high speed rail initiative Rick Scott denied when he was Florida Governor. Smart move. Private companies took over and extended their rail service to Orlando (as high speed rail would have done). $5B, and it’s complete and servicing Miami-Orlando as we speak.
Big dig 2.0. This ridiculous project is barely to the half way point after all the time and money poured into it
Look at the Republicans in Washington, Mike Johnson the so-called Conservative Stalwart, has turned Congress over to the Democrats, they have passed most of the Biden agenda against the wishes of their voters, how many of them will be reelected this November ?? I would most of not all of them, until that changes, we can’t expect any real change.
= $1,815,000,000,000
More than 25% of the estimated initial cost of the entire system
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/california-high-speed-rail-faces-challenges-after-us-award-2023-12-08/#:~:text=The%20full%20San%20Francisco%20to,%2488%20billion%20and%20%24128%20billion.
Polls are clear that my simple-minded fellow CA voters, who love them some choo choos, have soured on the project. Still we plow… well, inch ahead undeterred. From an initial low end estimate of $40B, it now has a high end estimate of $128B. And remember, such “progress” as has been shown is way out in the sticks. It’s never going to happen, but if the time came for right of way purchases and infrastructure installations into the heart of the Bay Area, the project would not even break a sweat costing $100B just for that. Probably a lot more.
This in a state with a $70B deficit
In the pocket of Diane Feinstein’s widower. Being married to a US Senator is pretty good for Business.
If the whole project costs the same per foot, a 400 mile road will cost $14.5 trillion.
IIRC, they still haven’t even acquired all the right of way needed for the whole project.
Absolute disaster.
The CA HSR ballot initiative passed with 52% of the vote.
https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/elections/2008/results/states/california.html
There's no construction equipment around.
It's kinda like, "Alright boys. Bridge is done. Let's pack everything up and go home."
I like money.
How else are they going to feed unruly blacks into Vegas?
They should never get it to open.
No one is going to take a train from Bakersfield to Merced.
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