California
Related: About this forumCalifornia's high-speed rail needs $100 billion to finish -- scrapping the project is a possibility
Californias high-speed rail project has teased residents with recent renderings of how its futuristic trains and massive stations would look. But, despite recent progress and the excitement those renderings have produced, the project remains about $7 billion short of the cost to complete the initial segment from Merced to Bakersfield.
The rail project also needs about $100 billion to make the original vision of linking San Francisco and Los Angeles via bullet trains a reality. And some of the projects watchdogs say state leaders need to decide soon whether to commit to the entire project or abandon it.
SNIP
The project has been mired by rising cost estimates, delays and litigation Phase 1 between San Francisco to L.A. is estimated to cost three times the initial cost projection.
Exacerbating the problem is the fact that the project continues to face financial uncertainty. Its sole source of ongoing funds, from the states cap-and-trade program, expires in 2030. Authority officials want to extend that authorization to 2050.
Link (paywall): https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/ca-high-speed-rail-100-billion-18979091.php
According to the link, that funding alone wont be enough to finance the complete project even with an extension. Louis Thompson, chairman of the projects Peer Review Group, said lawmakers should decide soon whether to commit to building the entire project or cut bait.
Thompson adds:
We cannot emphasize too strongly that inaction by the Legislature and governor to identify an adequate and stable source of funding for the project is increasing its costs and hindering managements control of the project.
This was -- and is -- an unnecessary project. A huge boondoggle. I said so from the beginning and voted against it, advocating spending money on local transit such as (in the S.F. Bay Area) BART expansions, CalTrain improvements, and even a second Bay Bridge.
SarahD
(1,732 posts)A rail service between SF and LA would be cool, but not nearly as useful as building several other mass transit projects to serve LA County and get some cars off the freeway. The trains don't need to be high speed, either. All they need to do is move faster than freeway traffic during rush hour.
ColinC
(10,668 posts)SarahD
(1,732 posts)They could build a more local version by shortening the line and reducing the speed, maybe adding more local stations, things like that. The sunken cost argument invariably comes up when trying to keep going on these Big Dream projects, but it rests on the assumption that it must be all or nothing, that the only choices are to complete the project as envisioned or walk away. That's not the case here.
ColinC
(10,668 posts)Joinfortmill
(16,396 posts)Would be wonderful if we had it throughout the country, especially now that planes are losing parts in mid-flight.
jimfields33
(18,856 posts)We built a whole railroad across the country in less time. This is ridiculous.
SarahD
(1,732 posts)The railroads used to be considered good by almost everybody. Now they're considered bad by conservatives and NIMBYs. We have become a nation of selfish, resentful people. Anything that doesn't benefit me is bad. Anything that benefits the community is socialism.
jimfields33
(18,856 posts)one party running things.
Auggie
(31,798 posts)nwliberalkiwi
(373 posts)China's high speed rail is the largest in the world. Take a look at it on You Tube. We have definitely fallen behind. My wife and I last year road high speed rail in Europe, and it was a great experience!!! This country is falling behind in so many metrics!!!
David__77
(23,869 posts)Auggie
(31,798 posts)Last edited Sat Mar 16, 2024, 02:11 PM - Edit history (1)
The politics and associated graft of building such a rail system outside of California would be just as great.
hunter
(38,930 posts)Our health care "system" is an expensive disaster, our transportation networks don't work, a third of our citizens are essentially illiterate and innumerate, our diets are crap, we can't build homes for the homeless, we can't keep keep guns out of the hands of fools and psychopaths, and our cops are dangerous.
*sigh*
JoseBalow
(5,151 posts)Gotta take a bus or ferry to get into the city
AllaN01Bear
(23,042 posts)we voted for thart system and the t,, party shut it down. we cant have nice things .
enid602
(9,045 posts)Its almost completed from SF to Merced. When operating that will fund SD and LA to Bakersfield. When completed, those two segments will fund Bakersfield to Merced. Will bring prosperity to Central Valley cities, and make them blue.
OneCrazyDiamond
(2,047 posts)The Feds just cut us 6 Billion for High Speed Rail.
CoopersDad
(2,866 posts)HSR is getting done, it will be worth the investment.
Smaller local systems are great but don't always make for a great wider network.
BART not using standard gauge, for example, was not a good idea.
I want to see HSR get done and connect to Gilroy, not far from me in Aptos.