First segment of high-speed rail hits another snag
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
SACRAMENTO It was supposed to be the easiest section of the High Speed Rail project: a 119-mile stretch in the Central Valley that would serve as the testing ground for the high speed trains before tracks are expanded south to Los Angeles and north to San Francisco.
But its proving to be more difficult than anticipated. On Wednesday, the High Speed Rail Authority informed the Obama Administration, in a contract amendment, that it expects the Central Valley track to be complete by 2022 instead of 2018 as originally projected.
Difficulty buying property and legal challenges contributed to the new timeline.
The four-year change sparked an onslaught of criticism from those who already oppose the $64 billion project, particularly Central Valley Republican lawmakers who have promised to block any additional federal funding once the current grant expires next year.
Read more: http://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/First-segment-of-high-speed-rail-hits-another-snag-7683976.php?t=821c06a99c83ae78b0&cmpid=twitter-premium
itsrobert
(14,157 posts)It's already outdated and won't be as fast as originally proposed.
bananas
(27,509 posts)HSR carries ten times as many people as hyperloop, you'd need ten hyperloops for the same capacity, requiring ten times as much property acquisition.
killbotfactory
(13,566 posts)reducing the cost of acquiring property rights.
multiple pods and the sheer speed of it will be enough to address capacity.
elleng
(131,143 posts)will likely be the case throughout, for those wondering why 'we' can't do passenger rail these days.
It's just not the same. Golden Spike Ceremony Re-Enact
question everything
(47,537 posts)Can do la san diego in 30min
Those Republican crazies just want nothing done.
trudyco
(1,258 posts)right above the freeways. I suppose it won't work in CA, though. Too earthquake prone.
dembotoz
(16,844 posts)Throd
(7,208 posts)ripcord
(5,537 posts)If it were truly high speed rail I would support it but there are going to be segments of low speed rail. There is also the fact that the voter initiative that authorized this project set a minimum travel time, budget and construction time frame, none of those things will be met, they won't even be close. The will of the voters is being ignored, with all the changes they have made that don't meet the authorization threshold they should hold another vote on the issue but that won't happen because there is no chance of it winning.
maxsolomon
(33,400 posts)nothing is more important than what Republican Ranchers want.
Throd
(7,208 posts)If you think this is a good idea, then I have a Bay Bridge to sell you. (at six times whatever we agree upon).
Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)Start in the central valley, the cheapest California land. Joining two cow towns with a bullet train is just what we need and will make the concept a success.
Why build around LA or SF, which was the voter mandate. Imagine a 15 minute ride from SF to San Jose, keep imagining.
Over time land around LA and SF will only get cheaper....
The coast is full of state and federal land that made available to the project would make it cheaper and actually provide a direct link between LA and the bay area.