California High Speed Rail Thread

[curt-pdx]

Originally Posted by jmecklenborg

Whatever the plan is, critics always have another plan.

So true! If we all agreed, or better yet, realized that there is an extensive process in place used to plan the best possible project (with adequate time for public feedback to help shape the ultimate project), then what would the trolls do with their life?

This forum would just be interesting information, instead of a bunch of complainers.

[jmecklenborg]

Originally Posted by curt-pdx

So true! If we all agreed, or better yet, realized that there is an extensive process in place used to plan the best possible project (with adequate time for public feedback to help shape the ultimate project), then what would the trolls do with their life?

This forum would just be interesting information, instead of a bunch of complainers.

I didn't make up that "plan" comment - a guy I knew who led a failed transit initiative in my home town used to use it all of the time.

If you've ever answered the phones at a pizza place, people have 4-5 strategies for getting free food. You can hear the attempt at free food from the second the phone call begins. Same with people who criticize public works projects - it's one of the same 4-5 strategies every single time:

-the project is too big - we should start small to see if that works
-the project is too small - needs to be more ambitious to have any positive effect
-instead of spending $ on this, they could be better spent on that
-project needs to "pay for itself" even though suggested alternative does not

[Busy Bee]

Tell me more about this free pizza stuff...

[202_Cyclist]

More high-speed rail money in Gavin Newsom’s CA budget. Here’s what it would do


By Thaddeus Miller
Jan. 11, 2022
Fresno Bee

"California’s high-speed rail would get about $4.2 billion toward finishing the central San Joaquin Valley portion in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed state spending plan, which he unveiled Monday.

The budget describes the money going to the rail from Merced to Bakersfield as advanced work, while dollars would also go to advanced planning for the entire project.

Originally planned from Los Angeles to San Francisco, the rail project has been pared down to connecting the Central Valley without the larger city destinations on either end. In his first state of the state in 2019, Newsom said the project didn’t have the pathway to the longer route..."

https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local...257203447.html

[shivtim]

With the infrastructure bill, and in general a big push on infrastructure from the Biden administration, wouldn't we expect CA will apply for additional funds and we could see the plan go back to SF-LA?

[Busy Bee]

The plan has always been SF-LA for phase 1 CHSR. That's never changed. The emphasis on fully constructing the IOS in the Central Valley is an intentional political strategy on the part of the Authority and the Governor to deliver a tangible that the public can see and/or use while simultaneously using that to hedge for funding commitments on both the state and federal level for the mountain crossings into SF and LA.

[MAC123]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

The plan has always been SF-LA for phase 1 CHSR. That's never changed. The emphasis on fully constructing the IOS in the Central Valley is an intentional political strategy on the part of the Authority and the Governor to deliver a tangible that the public can see and/or use while simultaneously using that to hedge for funding commitments on both the state and federal level for the mountain crossings into SF and LA.

Exactly. Completing the central valley portion gives something for people to actually interact with and that promotes support for the overall project.

[jmecklenborg]

Also, the central valley IOS will run at top 200+ mph speed for its entire length. The speeds will be slower (roughly 110-150mph) through/over the mountains, between SF and San Jose, and between Burbank and Anaheim via LA Union Station.

All of the people insisting on starting at SF and Los Angeles would have complained that the trains would hot run super-fast in those areas.

[TowerDude]

California HSR should be absorbed into Amtrak and rebranded as "Acela West"

[Busy Bee]

I actually can't think of anything worse.

[202_Cyclist]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

I actually can't think of anything worse.

Have WMATA operate it?

[Busy Bee]

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

Have WMATA operate it?

Have WMATA operate it with SEPTA's budget

[tech12]

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

More high-speed rail money in Gavin Newsom’s CA budget. Here’s what it would do


By Thaddeus Miller
Jan. 11, 2022
Fresno Bee

"California’s high-speed rail would get about $4.2 billion toward finishing the central San Joaquin Valley portion in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed state spending plan, which he unveiled Monday.

The budget describes the money going to the rail from Merced to Bakersfield as advanced work, while dollars would also go to advanced planning for the entire project.

Originally planned from Los Angeles to San Francisco, the rail project has been pared down to connecting the Central Valley without the larger city destinations on either end. In his first state of the state in 2019, Newsom said the project didn’t have the pathway to the longer route..."

https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local...257203447.html

lol

Funding not yet being secured for all segments of the system is not the same as the project being "pared down". The entire thing is still planned, as it always has been. It's annoying to constantly see inaccurate reporting on this project.

[jmecklenborg]

Originally Posted by tech12

lol

Funding not yet being secured for all segments of the system is not the same as the project being "pared down". The entire thing is still planned, as it always has been. It's annoying to constantly see inaccurate reporting on this project.

Very few reporters seem to understand infrastructure projects of any sort.

[plutonicpanda]

Do we have any new estimates on when the Palmdale to LAUS section could begin construction?

[jmecklenborg]

Originally Posted by plutonicpanda

Do we have any new estimates on when the Palmdale to LAUS section could begin construction?

No, no update for anything between Bakersfield and LA. Remember that in order for LA Union Station to be used in any appreciable volume by HSR, the terminus at Anaheim needs to be built because there is no space for cleaning/restocking the trains at LA Union. So the tunneling between Palmdale and Burbank needs to be built along with everything else simultaneously.

[Busy Bee]

If officials from Burbank and Glendale are so concerned about the addition of hsr tracks to the Metrolink corridor "further dividing their communities" they should have been advocating for the corridor to be trenched in conjunction with the hsr construction. This would have future-proofed the corridor, significantly alleviated noise, invested in brand new modern below grade Metrolink stations which would attract ridership, facilitate the removal of several pedestrian-hostile arterial underpasses which are the actual psychological barrier offenders allowing flanking communities to be stitched back together, preventing the closure of several current at-gtade crossings and creating numerous opportunities for air rights developments to be built above the trackway which would be a large revenue generator. This could be done from downtown Burbank all the way to Taylor Yard.

[jmecklenborg]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

are so concerned about the addition of hsr tracks to the Metrolink corridor "further dividing their communities" they should have been advocating for the corridor to be trenched in conjunction with the hsr construction.

There is such an overuse of the term "community" by "concerned" people. I grew up in a real multi-generational ethnic neighborhood where we and many others had lived for over 100 years, intermarried, etc. There were all sorts of problems (family feuds, fist fights, malicious property damage, waved guns), despite the absence of a highway or railroad track running directly through the place.

[202_Cyclist]

I read the LA Times article by high-speed rail hater, Ralph Vartabedian. I don't know what the concern is about with water. It isn't like California will have any water by 2030 anyways...

[mattropolis]

Some recent images showing a shoofly track that is complete and operational now. Allows the Union Pacific trains to continue to operate while underpasses are built on their old alignment.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQDD...annel=JMACivil" target="_blank">Video Link