Yesterdays high speed rail article by Manteca Bulletin editor Dennis Wyatt provides current insight by someone working in the central valley of our state that warrants consideration. I say that especially in light of the proposed central valley locations of the initial track of the high speed boondoggle.
Perhaps the beneficiaries of the estates of Leland Stanford, Collis P. Huntington, Charles Crocker or Mark Hopkins might come forward and show their Christmas spirit by providing the funding. These Central Pacific elite surely knew how to build and “control” all aspects of a railroad as they amassed their fortunes.
No, I do not ride a horse to our local Albertson’s or Ralph’s to grocery shop. Thinking about forms of transportation let me roll back time. Henry Ford’s 1908 Model T made it easy for thousands of Americans to commute by car saving residents and farmers many hours in their weekly activities. The difference is that Henry Ford created that popular car, available only in black for most motorists, solely with private funding.
While we did create the Federal Aid Road Act of 1916 to get farmers vehicles out of the mud, getting a few billion dollars from the Obama Administration to prime the pump and expecting the state of CA to fund the additional $60 to $75 billion dollars, with some yet TBD venture money thrown in, must not be overlooked. Projected cost source. Reason Foundation.
So too must be the debt service of the initial $9 billion Ballot Measure looking forward for 30 to 40 years. While we shall continue to struggle meeting future state budgets, that debt service, when added to our existing bonded indebtedness, will hang over our head like a huge black cloud. Unlike cities, we cannot declare bankruptcy.
Folks. Phase One’s 520 miles of track does not connect to San Diego yet that is what voters were told. “Trust, but verify,” surely applies with this CIP.
Let me remind readers that the CA HSR is to be self sufficient in terms of its operations. Point being that we are not to provide any subsidy. Can anyone point me to a high speed rail system in this country that is not subsidized?
Please, someone promoting this HSR boondoggle, when governor elect Jerry Brown finds himself in a massive $26 billion hole before being sworn in, show us where we are to get the money for this major CIP while our bridges and roads are crumbling?
Partnering with cities who find themselves in financial trouble. Who? Anaheim?
In their June 4th 2009 story the SF Chronicle quoted governor Arnold Schwarzenegger stating “our wallet is empty, our bank is closed, and our credit is dried up.” Isn’t Arnold the same governor who proposed cutting $2.5 billion from schools and community colleges to balance his budget?
Is this the same lame duck CA governor who now promotes this high speed rail?
No problem, let’s shift the credit card debt for HSR to our taxpayers grandkids after we are out of office. That’s defined as sound fiscal leadership.
Oh. Just a minute. Did someone suggest extending the Feb 2008 “temporary” tax increase, the largest in our state’s history, to provide future necessary services? And yet proponents want us to simply close our eyes and open our wallets, and max out our credit cards so that the upper class can have a fast smooth ride to lobby in Sacramento or to spend a weekend vacationing in San Francisco or San Diego.
Following are the opening paragraphs of Editor Wyatt’s article. The full story link is provided below.
“High speed rail is permanent job killer for Southern San Joaquin Valley
There is something deliciously ironic about the first operable segment of high speed rail in California being between Fresno and Bakersfield.
Arguments – and they are certainly legitimate – about funding and viability in terms of actual ticket costs aside – you’ve got to admit the Southern San Joaquin Valley being at the forefront of high tech rail transportation in California is interesting to say the least.
It is 110 miles between the two cities or two hours assuming anyone goes as slow as the legal speed limit on Highway 99. High speed rail will cut the trip down to 37 minutes.
The $4.75 billion – mostly federal money and very little from the $10 billion bond approved by California voters for state rail – will go to build what will be an initial 120-mile segment of the 520-mile route being pursued between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Target completion of the first segment is 2017. It surely will spur Tonight Show style jokes about why people would want to travel as fast as possible between the two cities.
Financing and fiscal viability issues aside there is a real misnomer being spouted by leaders in the Southern San Joaquin Valley that high speed rail will somehow be a catalyst to help end poverty in the region.”
http://www.mantecabulletin.com/news/article/19577/
Folks. There are some heavy hitters behind this high speed rail. Not targeting specific firms however Siemens is a major player. We have elected officials whose attitude to the stimulus is use it or lose it.
While we do not travel by horse and buggy, and have personally utilized subsidized high speed rail, our state cannot afford that major investment in this economic climate.
And keep your eyes on this 3 P; “public, private public,” partnership. Are we that naive and accept that a venture capitalist will best serve their investors without a guaranteed and profitable ROI?
High-speed rail advocates are psychotic: http://ti.org/antiplanner/?p=4202
Brakes? How about a self-destruct button?
Tony. While the proposed route has an option for a Norwalk or Fullerton station, those of us living below the Y would have to fight traffic all the way to ARTIC, find a parking lot, and board a train to LA’s Union Station at Olivera Street. Yup. We will save time?
While mentioned as being under consideration I do not see Irvine in the current picture.
HSR isn’t coming to ARTIC. Haven’t you heard?
Tony. Caution. Buyer beware.
A trip down memory lane. Knowing that the natives were restless OCTA cut back on the proposed $1.2 billion dollar Centerline to make it more palatable. At first it was to provide service from Fullerton to Irvine. OCTA cut the Master Planned 87 mile Urban Rail line to 11.4 miles to mitigate heavy opposition. This reduced line was to get OCTA’s foot in the door. I covered this slight of hand in my Sunday May 18, 2003 Reader Rebuttal to Centerline published in the OC Register.
It didn’t work and we sank that ship or should I say choo choo. I still have my no Centerline button that lights up as a souvenir.
They are taking the easiest path FIRST where there is less backlash from the agricultural districts than inner cities where eminent domain enters the picture. Once they put a spike in the ground we will have a tougher battle stopping this feel good project.
If you think Anaheim is out of the picture I do have a famous bridge for sale.
Larry,
Please keep the light shining brightly on this joke of a public boondoggle. The voters were duped into funding this mess, and now the politicians use that as an excuse to keep the trough full. Several other states have wised up and ejected their HSR plans. While I’m not surprised that California has failed to follow suit, it’s the pesky thorns like you that will force them to keep answering questions. Sooner or later, change will have to come.
Stand back and make way……80,000 jobs are depending – not on your voice….but that
of a society on the ragged edge. Those lovely housing prices are not particularly spiking right now…..nor are all those vacancies in the Commercial Real Estate market.
Just one question to any of you Anti-Techy folks…..what other endeavors would you propose to create 80,000 jobs? Just inquisitive….that’s all.
rw
Happy New Year to the Winships.
80,000 new jobs? Hmm. And are your Corona Del Mar neighbors ready, willing and able to pony up the Letter of Credit or open their bank vaults to fund this toy train for the rich and famous?
Let’s see. Having been a regular visitor to your beach area studio, and driving to various CE events together, I would say that the drive time from the beach, using the 55 and I-5 to Anaheim, is rougly half the time it would take to get from ARTIC to Union Station. The difference is that you could depart any time you wish and not wait for one of the three hourly HSR trains, especially if you continue up the 5.
Wait a minute. We already have multiple Metrolink trains providing the same rail service to Union Station from OC. As such what’s the true benefit for the Winships?
I have used Metrolink from Laguna Niguel stopping in Irvine and Fullerton to Union Station. Why get off that train only to wait for and switch to the HSR.
According to their table Metrolink offers 14 weekday trains running from Fullerton to Union Station and 10 from Anaheim. Those trips take between 45 to 50 minutes. That said, how much time are you actually going to save while spending billions of dollars?
Pringle put his station on the wrong side of the 57.
*hey….in these tough times…the City of Newport Beach can ramrod a small $200 Million dollar City Hall Complex into reality…..without so much as a how do you do?
Whatever grade of track is required for HSR…..it will be far different from what you have
already. Reminds us of the Atlantic City story……the first rail line that went to the emerging
Atlantic City…..was standard rail stuff. It took about 5 years and the competition came in with a smaller rail footprint and lower rates from the mainland. It was a super success. If you look honestly at the history of AMTRAK…..it has never made a profit. Does it serve a good and noble purpose? Should we have not linked the Eastern United States to the West….via the Union Pacfic…Golden Spike and all? How about using all that illegal immigrant Chinese labor in the process? These are no doubt philosophical arguments….rather than dollars and cents considerations. What did Butch say to Sundance again: “I’ve got vision and the rest of the people are wearing bi-focals!”
rw
Ron & Anna.
Have you visited Atlantic City in the past few years? We have. And while the casinos may be doing OK the city has become a true poster child for blight.
Most visitors to Atlantic city come by way of the NJ Tpke. And thank you for mentioning Amtrak.
By Kevin Freking, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON — U.S. taxpayers spent about $32 subsidizing the cost of the typical Amtrak passenger in 2008, about four times the rail operator’s estimate, according to a private study.
Let me also point out that I cannot find any Amtrak service to A.C. There is an ACES train departing from Penn Staion in NY that makes one stop in Newark on weekends only.
Not exactly a lot of choices for the high roller or entry level gambler
I want to be like Europe…….
The Europeans use the Eurorail pass to keep the tourists confined inside something rather than trying to drink the local wine and eating the local bread. It might work well here too!
rw