another change

Having followed the CA HSR (high speed rail) over the past 18 years, one finds a distinct pattern of taking a long time to make a decision about a route or related issue only to eventually abandon that decision. The rate at which the HSRA is changing routes or whatever else is appropriate to warrant a new consultant and engineering study to cost $millions is becoming noticeable that the HSR system proposal is already serving its purpose to benefit the people. The people being served are the few politically connected share holders of the consultant and engineering companies; one might conclude no one else (CA residents) matters.

HSR joke

Fiscal responsibility doesn't matter to the California legislators. Florida's decision to cancel plans to build a train that would cost them $3billion they don't have should be a hint to CA's blind obsession to have its HSR. In 2008, the voters were misled to say yes to build a proposed $43billion train but, the bond was for $9billion. There is a $34billion dollar gap that doesn't seem to matter. While Florida says no to a $3billion dollar debt, California seem eager to accept a 10-fold higher debt. And; that $43billion price tag, BTW, is estimated at half to one fifth of what other transportation experts cost analysis are.

CA HSR

Mid-February and the antiquated train momentum rolls through the Valley with a high dollar marketing sales pitch full of deception. In an article in the Fresno Bee (February 11, 2011) the City of Fresno enthusiastically embraces the incoherent plan.

In Washington the mood isn't as joyous. February 12th the Fresno Bee reports a darker look at the possibility of the antique train being implemented. Even still, CA's rep. Costa insisted that the billion dollar boondoggle is an "economic and quality of life game-changer". His statement fails to recognize that the subsidized project is inefficient economically. Money for the project is someone else' tax which lowers American's quality of life by over-taxation.

The only feasible solution is a privately funded project that recovers it's capital costs with ridership farebox by using new technology designed to conveniently take people directly where they need to go. A privately funded project does not present a burden to the general public.

California High Speed Rail news

A congratulations is in order for Tom Richards, newly appointed to the CA HSRA Board.

Unanswered Questions of the CA HSR

The price of California's high speed rail isn't touted as civilization's salvation by everyone; in this recent blog, author Richard Rider suggests there are financial pieces missing from a viable business plan.

Another paper is summerized here with the Executive Summary done by the Community Coalition on High Speed Rail.

Urban Sprawl

In 2006 the CA State legislature passed the air quality bill: AB32. This piece of legislation sets a target for California to have the same measure of heavy air particulates as in 1990 by 2020.

With the increase of roads and automobile centric development, charts show a continual increase to the decline of air quality. Obtaining a dramatic decrease requires a change of land use and a reduction of automobile use. California’s current land use design patterns are automobile centric and problematic for lowering pollution. Sprawl development continues the proliferation of automobile use which exacerbates the pollution increase.

As City’s Planners began to grapple with what urban growth has turned into as they began looking into the effects of AB32, the State Senate passed SB375 which mandates every MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) to devise a Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS) into every regional and city growth plan.

As the West grew in the 1800s, the growth was based on trains and transit systems. With automobiles being unsustainable and our entire society being based on an unsustainable foundation, it has come to the time when we get to change.

Following illusion

Following the proposed CA high speed rail, it is an interesting sight to see the rapid increase of spending over the past couple years now that the project has gained political interest. The latest news shows two States refusing ties of accepting federal rail dollars due to inadequate planning. As an act of vengeful retaliation, those dollars are headed to add another $600mil to the gluttony queen of irrational irresponsible spending: California. Rather than interpreting the act of refusing to accept the rail dollars as a sign of needed re-examination of federal rail funds, the money was immediately tagged for the worlds biggest project of irrationality: the CA HSR and its infamous "train to nowhere". It should be gaining an industry reputation as California's gravy train for jobs that create nothing.

GOD's Word says as the blind lead the blind, they will walk together into the ditch. California's transportation solution is to use modern transit technology.