Re: Slow construction of the Train To Nowhere
Author: synonymouse
Date: 05-01-2018 - 20:50
I share Margaret's sentiments.
The poor cost/benefit ratio will continue to plague this thing - they made it greatly more expensive by gerrymandering the route on detours to Palmdale and Pacheco.
The most important new part of the project is the southern mountain crossing; the electrification of the ex-SP Peninsula line having been mooted for like a hundred years. In SoCal they should have taken up what the Santa Fe wanted to do also a hundred years ago, just prior to WWI. That is the rail crossing of Tejon Pass, a brand new escape from LA into the Valley. The LA to Bakersfield via Tejon connection alone would have been a guaranteed success and key to moving on to Sacramento and the Bay Area. Interestingly Bako did not want it; instead they pushed for Tehachapi because they feared a line that would be too successful. Maybe that is what is motivating the Tejon Ranch mindset too.