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Old Posted May 12, 2010, 5:33 AM
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Back-seat Driver: Sacramento's off the bench in high-speed rail competition

By Tony Bizjak
tbizjak@sacbee.com The Sacramento Bee
Published: Monday, May. 10, 2010 - 12:00 am | Page 1B


Some say California's bullet train is a dream that'll never happen or a bad idea that'll end up being a money pit.

State voters, however, have given a thumbs up, approving $9 billion in seed money. And the feds just kicked in a few billion more.

That's caused some in Sacramento – including Mayor Kevin Johnson – to begin pushing the case for fast trains to Sacramento.

At the moment, Sacramento's bullet train ticket is stamped "second-class city."

San Francisco and Los Angeles scored the good seats. The first high-speed rail line is planned to run between those two cities.

Sacramento and San Diego would get service later, if the first line makes money, as projected in the state high-speed rail business plan.

That's a huge if.

The business plan's ridership numbers are being challenged in a new lawsuit. Meanwhile, Bay Area communities and advocacy groups are bickering over the S.F.-L.A. route.

Some Sacramento leaders figure the moment is good to try to move this area up from caboose status.

Last week, they took a step forward.

The High Speed Rail Authority board agreed to study the feasibility of building a precursor system (call it a mini-bullet train) linking Sacramento, Stockton, Merced and Livermore.

It would be electrified and have grade separations, allowing the state's high-speed rail trains eventually to share the line.

"It whets the appetite," said Stacey Mortensen of the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission.

Michael Faust of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce likes the creative thinking. He was among several last week who asked the state to make Sacramento part of phase one for the bigger system.

But where's the money to build the regional line? How many will ride?

Proponents say answers are a ways off. For now, Sacramento finally is stepping into the game.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/05/10/273...#ixzz0ngrZKzSB
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