The Return of Rail

[vfx]

I voted for it hoping that Las Vegas would contribute a chunk to get a leg run out to them.

I don't gamble and don't even like Vegas much but I like the food.

[stopcrazypp]

I voted yes on this also. Didn't expect it to pass, but apparently it did. The other two measures on renewable energy and on alternative fuel vehicles both failed.

[TEG]

I voted it for it too given I have relatives in LA and live at the other end.
A bad time for us to add so much bond debt, but in 30 years when the cost of gas and jet fuel makes such trips prohibitive it seems like it will be a good thing for future generations.

I also voted against the other measures that didn't pass. They had some good attributes but were too flawed to pass as written.

[graham]

I am like TEG in that I also voted for the train, but against the other measures.

I was honestly surprised that 1A passed. I am of course worried about the cost. But I am cautiously optimistic that the benefits will outweigh the problems.

They claim that the first leg will be on line in just 6 years. I know that Menlo Park and Atherton have already sued to stop it. Does that mean that the first part will go through the relatively easy political landscape of building the rural "I-5" section first? I think that will be the most useful, it would be nice if that were done earlier.

[Bradleybang]

Ditto Graham & TEG votes.

Long term train infrafrastructure is an item that our government should fund and build as oppossed to the many other pork and socialist items.

Of course the devil will be the details.

[dpeilow]

The CHSR Authority has released a new business plan. Some interesting details.

[graham]

So, I have seen reports in the media which claim sections of the new rail could come on line in as few as 6 years, but I have yet to see anyone detail which sections.

From dpeilow's linked business plan, almost every sentence talks about the system as a whole coming on line sometime around 2030. The closest I could find to explaining their plans to come on line earlier are from the Completion Risk section:

To mitigate this risk, the Authority has developed a phasing plan that promotes maximum utility throughout the construction period. Smaller segments in and around the Los Angeles basin and the San Francisco Bay Area will provide immediate benefit to improved local commuter rail service and not require an operating subsidy beyond what is currently provided to local entities, even if full system funding were to fail to materialize. Thereafter, segments linking the Central Valley with a major metropolitan area will provide an immediate benefit to communities underserved by current air or rail services. In many cases, such segments are projected to be “self supporting” over time and not require an ongoing operating subsidy.

[TEG]

Big projects like this frequently take longer than planned and tend to run over budget. I still voted for it knowing that could happen.

[Brent]

Big projects like this frequently take longer than planned and tend to run over budget. I still voted for it knowing that could happen.

Yeah. I had the same feeling. I just figured that no matter what -- and despite all the baloney that will likely accompany the project -- we'll finally have a train. I felt the cost-benefit ratio weighed so far in favor of a train and it was a no brainer. On the cost side you have, well, just money, really, albeit a lot of it in a difficult economic environment. The benefits, by contrast, are off-the-charts: Bakersfield becomes a L.A. commuter city (and similar effects elsewhere), a last-minute weekend trip LA-SF becomes possible, tourism in California benefits, pollution from airplanes all these trips is reduced, etc.

LA's subway had many problems along these lines, but it's finally operational, popular among riders who can use it, and city planners are looking to extend it.

[graham]

I wonder how much this train will increase the real estate values of the Central Coast? Now many of these towns may transform into bedroom communities for L.A. and the Bay Area.