Because MTA, can do an environmental, even if it is not required. MTA is overextended, riddled with political flunkies in the senior management team, and has chosen to expose this project to an unnecessary and costly process, in order to pander to the nine people who organized this "stop the train" crusade, and more importantly to curry favor and not offend any of the politicians pandering to the mob hysteria they've created.

Ironically, the Sierra Clubs Angeles Chapter Transportation Committee supports the project, but also appears to be getting "blow back" from higher ups, also possibly too timid or "afraid to offend" these little "cliques" of pseudo-environmental wannabee's, pushing this "stop the train" agenda.

The State Sierra Club organization is also facing some of those conflicts with criticizing or asking for changes in the HSR fiasco, for fear of alienating extreme factions, or political relationships, despite calls to support the State Audit from its own members, and an increasing understanding that this project is in need of immediate and fundamental reform. The big fight is going to come from Sou Cal on CHSRA's only commitment to Sou Cal the LAUPT Phase one run through project, now endangered just by the cost overruns to date, which was to be in place for the 2028 Olympics.

Ditto, with the Sierra Club local vs State/National, and some of the so-called "Smart" growth "in-fill/TOD" issues, where there is significant division internally about what exactly "Bmart" growth actually is, or means. Rhetoric and wishful thinking apparently don't have much other than marginal impact on the driving or the overall transit use habits of the yuppies moving into these expensive new condos, and the neighbors have started to notice.

So, it is going to be an interesting couple of months, on a number of these issues.