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Slow construction of the train to Somewhere
Author: Commenter
Date: 05-01-2018 - 12:51
National Review is an American semi-monthly conservative editorial magazine focusing on news and commentary pieces on political, social, and cultural affairs. The magazine was founded by the author William F. Buckley Jr. in 1955. Wikipedia
It's publisher is E. Garrett Bewkes IV. Sort of gives one the idea that neutrality and actual facts is not their emphasis.
Any time someone uses the phrase "an 'x' to nowhere" you may presume they have an axe to grind. It is certainly true that any large project takes longer than expected (plenty of highway and bridge examples hereabouts), and having the party in power in the federal government opposed to a project does make things difficult. But they are doing the best they can with the funds they have, something less than $20 billion.
So what will that build?
A high speed line from Madera to Bakersfield, An electrified and partly high speed line from San Francisco to Gilroy, run through tracks at LAUS, completed EIRs for much of the remaining route (they take years), knowledge of what it will take (both physical and monetary) to complete the Pacheco Pass tunnels. Final determination of the chain of NIMBY lawsuits. Several large grade separation projects in The Southland.
And most importantly of all, these will all take long enough to allow time for the government in Washington to change is mind or its membership.
It's publisher is E. Garrett Bewkes IV. Sort of gives one the idea that neutrality and actual facts is not their emphasis.
Any time someone uses the phrase "an 'x' to nowhere" you may presume they have an axe to grind. It is certainly true that any large project takes longer than expected (plenty of highway and bridge examples hereabouts), and having the party in power in the federal government opposed to a project does make things difficult. But they are doing the best they can with the funds they have, something less than $20 billion.
So what will that build?
A high speed line from Madera to Bakersfield, An electrified and partly high speed line from San Francisco to Gilroy, run through tracks at LAUS, completed EIRs for much of the remaining route (they take years), knowledge of what it will take (both physical and monetary) to complete the Pacheco Pass tunnels. Final determination of the chain of NIMBY lawsuits. Several large grade separation projects in The Southland.
And most importantly of all, these will all take long enough to allow time for the government in Washington to change is mind or its membership.
