Ranting, as much as I have criticized CAHSR, does nothing to fix this. So far, these folks are going to build something, so what do we really need and how do we make sure it's done responsibly?

Welcome to the real world where politics and big infrastructure intersect. In these days of hidden and free flowing "campaign" bribes to buy influence and steer contracts, it is a scary place. But, we actually need these some of these things and they actually cost money.

It has been noted that you use the roads to chase trains, as do I, as do others, and contrary to your assertion, this is a long way from "pay as you go", since the trust funds don't currently even meet estimated maintenance and depreciation costs, of our now "old" (like me) freeway system. The truck weight and length increases Congress has allowed, without commensurate higher fees or requiring more axles, are a joke and now much heavier trucks are pounding our roads apart.

So since the system does seem to suck, how would you fix it, how do you pay for it, and how do you keep some semblance of control over the corruption?

Meanwhile, back on earth, if they are going to begin cutting this hog up, and they are, then can we at least get a real and needed SouCal project, the LAUPT run-through, moved to the top of the list, instead of all of this going up north, on near term "lines to nowhere".

The Union Station run-through project would save LOSSAN and Metrolink users travel time, operating costs, and help give some relief to these major intra-urban corridors, with higher frequency, faster, and more reliable passenger services, where our freeways actually suck right now. The operating cost savings from this project are so significant that this project was potentially even be a candidate for a public private partnership, with private financing paid off through a lease back agreement, with the public operators.

Unfortunately, as best as I can tell lately, RailPAC and TRAC have become virtually politically dysfunctional, with very little to contribute to an effective public policy dialogue, due to a few dominant and often uncompromising egos who, too often, seem more bent on a course of self marginalization than effective advocacy. That's really too bad, but I take what I read from these groups, lately, with a certain sense of morbid humor, so it doesn't affect my blood pressure too much.