Mar 03 2008
Californians Could Vote on High-Speed Rail
GUEST: Emily Rush, Calpirg Transportation Advocate
Two Democratic state lawmakers recently introduced legislation to broaden support for a California high speed rail bond. Plans for a 700 mile rail system to connect Californians from San Diego all the way to San Francisco have faced numerous delays this past decade. Hoping to get the bullet train in motion, the bill authored by Assemblywomen Fiona Ma and Cathleen Galgiani, would diversify allocation of the $9.9 billion rail bonds to be proposed to voters on the November 2008 ballot. Originally, state funding was only set aside for a rail line between LA and San Francisco. Modifications, which may attract voters in the railway’s other locations, would have the money go to all stops including Oakland, San Jose, and Irvine. Supporters of the project, see it as way to relieve traffic congestion and global warming emissions. It is also expected to improve travel without spending billions on improving roads and highways. If voters approve the bond measure in November, California’s $40 billion network, to be constructed over the course of twenty years, could be the nation’s first.
For more information, visit www.calpirg.org, or www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov.
6 Responses to “Californians Could Vote on High-Speed Rail”
[…] High-speed rail in California? You may be able to vote on it soon. […]
Yes!
Let’s finally build the High-Speed Rail!
Enough wasting money on useless highways & more concrete.
It’s time to rather invest in a promising and long-term solution: High-Speed Rail!
Let’s all support it!
It’s so wonderful, when I visit an Asian or European city and hop on one of their many high-speed trains and get to my destination in within minutes, without the hassle of airport hell!
Asia & Europe are decades ahead of us in the transportation realm. We have much catching up to do if we plan to stay viable and competitive.
We already know where our high-speed trains need to be.
Let’s build them NOW, before the price-tag gets ridiculous.
Oh yeah, I just hope Arnol doesn’t take it of the ballot again.
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Why the California High Speed Train is a bad idea:
• It’s going to be far too expensive. It will not be cost-effective.
• It will not cost $40 million. It will cost three times that much.
• Building it will leave the biggest carbon footprint ever.
• It will be a luxury train for the white-collar well-to-do.
• The Nation and the State are in a financial crisis. This is the worst possible time to build such a wasteful boondoggle.
• It won’t solve any of the traffic problems on the highway or in the air.
• The project is really about pork-barrel politics.
• The concealed purpose of the project is to pump tax dollars into the economy.
• Another purpose is to create artificial, government paid jobs.
•The project’s real clients will be the construction companies and contractors, land developers, consultants and lawyers.
• California needs urban mass transit in the Bay Area and LA Basin. That’s where the transit problems are.
• California does not need a new north-south passenger train system.
• The high speed rail bond issue is a 30 year debt for California taxpayers.
California voters need to vote against this massive waste of tax dollars.
I really hope voters approve this. I plan to move to California once I’m done with nursing school.