Governor signs law to make California home to nation's first truly high-speed rail

[alp227]

Source: CNN

California is poised to become home to the nation's first truly high-speed rail system with Gov. Jerry Brown's signing Wednesday of a law authorizing the first leg of construction for a line that will eventually connect Los Angeles and San Francisco.

California will issue $2.6 billion in bonds, with the federal government providing an additional $3.2 billion, to build the initial segment of the high-speed rail between Merced and the San Fernando Valley on the north side of Los Angeles, officials said.

The high-speed rail project was part of a transportation bill signed by Brown that calls for general improvements to the state's rail system involving a total of $4.7 billion in state funding matched with $7.9 billion in federal and local funds, officials said.

"This legislation will help put thousands of people in California back to work," Brown said at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, according to a news release. "By improving regional transportation systems, we are investing in the future of our state and making California a better place to live and work."

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/18/us/california-high-speed-rail/index.html

---

However, even a few (D) state senators voted against HSR, and my local paper (whose editorial board is far from right wing) called the HSR project a "high-spending folly".

[liberal N proud]

1. It is sad we have to call this excellent!

Which it truly is and I am elated they are lead the way. But we should have coast to coast HSR by now.

[Mz Pip]

5. That would be wonderful

I just spent 55 hours on the train from CA to Chicago. It was an interesting experience but I will never do it again. There were places we went through that had 10 mile per hour speed limits. I suppose I should have been glad we weren't more than 5 hours late.

[AsahinaKimi]

2. YIPPEE... ALL ABOARD!!!

Kariforunia-shū no Shinkansen ga daisuki desuyo!

[DonCoquixote]

3. just remember to think Rick Scott

for sending you this gift.

[happerbolic]

19. Derpy-derp Rick

[link:|

[midnight]

4. Very happy for you California.... We in Wisconsin were so close to having it too....

[AllyCat]

18. But now he wants to make changes to Amtrak...as rumor has it the Kochs will buy it.

I'm glad to see Illinois to the south of us making improvments. Wish we had HSR here with all those jobs and the international draw of reasonable, modern transportation.

[happerbolic]

20. just the control Freaks at the top of your state...

...had other plans for your future transportation

[link:|

[SunSeeker]

6. K&R

[kestrel91316]

7. I doubt it will be up and running before I die. I'm 55.

[shanti]

12. yes

i'm 56 and despair at ever seeing this happen in my lifetime. i'm in sac, but would definitely use it! having to transfer to a bus just sucks!

[mountain grammy]

8. Would love to see it in Colorado

Denver has completed many miles of light rail and is working on more. The number of people using the rail is far greater than was anticipated. we Coloradans love our vehicles, but the speed and convenience are hard to beat. Why are Americans so resistant to public transportation, but love it and use it when it's available?

[JDPriestly]

9. K&R Great news. Can't wait to take the train from Union Station to San Francisco.

[JayhawkSD]

10. Unfortunately, most of that CNN story is smoke and mirrors

For one thing the funding after this initial phase is an illusion, because it posits federal funding which is unlikely to be forthcoming, private funding which is utterly laughable, and local funding from localities which presently cannot even pay their fire and police forces. The speeds which it talks about are a complete pipe dream because much of the proposed line is based on existing rights of way which will not sustain anywhere close to those speeds. The segment presently being built is in the Eastern Central Valley and is about the least populated portion of the state, and ends 40 miles south of Merced, not at Merced as the article suggests. Not that Merced is exactly such a hotbed of economic activity.

As an example of what a farce the "high speed rail" bill that Brownie just signed really is, $100 million of the money is being spent in San Diego to perform what is essentially deferred maintenance on the trolley system. I don't think anyone in their right mind would call a 15mph trolley "high speed rail."

[MindMover]

11. I will bet your glass is always half empty .....

[awoke_in_2003]

15. An optimist...

thinks the glass half full, the pessimist half empty. The engineer sees the glass not being used to its full designed capacity.

[shanti]

13. OK....

[Spitfire of ATJ]

14. I want Amtrak to Vegas damnit!!!

I'm going there next month and would LOVE to take the scenic route through the Cajon Pass.

Of course it's even nicer when there's snow.

BTW: This video is kinda LOUD so mute it to really enjoy it.

[Odin2005]

21. Waste of money, Vegas will be a ghost town in 100 years.

It's the mascot of being environmentally unsustainable.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

22. You wouldn't say that if you ever went there.

Get away from the casinos downtown and it's typical suburbs and strip malls.

There's plenty of water nearby too thanks to Hoover Dam which generates enough electricity that they sell the surplus to California.

It's also a proving ground for solar power.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

16. Great news for CA

and hopefully for the rest of the nation sooner rather than later. Here's an informative website that shows the route and developments along individual sections.

I do believe we middle-agers will live to ride this train, yes I do.


http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/trip_planner.aspx

[AllyCat]

17. I'm glad to see him do this.

He's been a disappointment on many things, but this will make a difference for California workers, the environment, and those horrible traffic jams.