I can't believe some of the inane responses to the CA HSR project. No matter where you route it, some NIMBYs are going to complain. The most laughable is the notion that it will contribute to urban sprawl. First of all, if you are concerned about urban sprawl, you are about 30 million people late. Second, the people perpetuating this nonsense are acting as if the HSR is going to stop in their little mud puddle. Ironically, in addition to the NIMBYs, there will be advocates who want the line to include a stop there, diluting the projected speed. If anything, HSR would tend to reduce urban sprawl by connecting city centers. Farmers that have their land bisected (not likely if the route follows existing rail corridors), should let local govt. provide funding for under/overpasses to allow farm equipment access. If you want to stop urban sprawl, rail (excuse the pun) against local politicians who keep issuing construction permits to receive the additional revenues and taxes without consideration of the impact on local quality of life. As I've said many times, limit the number of HSR stops and build feeder rail lines to give rural access. This should be a no-brainer.