$100 billion to make a workable public transportation system for Los Angeles? That number seems a bit high--that equates to fully 3.5% of the entire federal budget (for comparison).

I'm not the expert Mr. Reed is, and I have no clue whether the numbers he threw out for each of the planned services are even ballpark--$3 to 5 billion to implement Metrolink service on the Harbor Sub? Even if they have to tear out the existing track and replace it with dual-track CTC (throwing out a figure of $2 million per mile, which seems reasonable based on the little information I've overheard), even the full 26 miles would only cost $50 million, and surely the concrete for station platforms and parking lots, locomotives, and cars can't cost $2.5 to $4.5 billion.

Then again, if God gave the LACMTA and SCRRA $100 billion, they (as government agencies) would surely find a way to inefficiently squander it all...