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Re: LaMalfa Introduces Bill to Send CA HSR Back to Ballot
Author: BOB2
Date: 02-01-2012 - 09:43
Dutchman,
Most of your analysis of the possibly corrupt and utterly dysfunctional CHSRA is generally right.
Most of your analysis of rail viability in CA is completely wrong. California has significant current regional and intercity rail demand, and significant greater potential demand. This is not from demand in the end to end SFO LAX trip market. It is demand in the market of mid sized urbanized centers an hour or so apart, on already congested corridors, and for access into our major congested urban centers.
There are several behind the scenes efforts to put some of this CHSRA fiasco on hold, for a "do-over". This may start with the postponement (abandonment?) of the clearly "not shovel ready" bloated and useless line to nowhere-the Coalinga to Oildale "starter" segment. This project segment is going to court, and given the poor quality of planning and environmental analysis, is in big trouble.
Brown's members are now quite aware of how mismanaged the CHSRA is. Why do you think that the CEO resigned, and the Chair stepped down? It was time to leave, now that Arnold's lame duck appointee resigned on January 3, and Brown's people had the votes needed to replace the Chair, and the CEO. Brown has been leaned on pretty heavily on this by our Senators, though. So Brown appears to be trying find some more realisitic middle ground, while at the same time giving public "support" to the concept of HSR.
The Feds appear to have been had, by the lies about project readiness from CHSRA, and political pressure from both of our Senators. And, it's been reported that the Feds are not happy. After pressure to have the Secretary come out, at their apparent insistence, to defend this fiasco, some of these folks are now waffling. Suddenly, in response to the terrible press, and self evident dysfunctionality of the CHSRA, some of these folks appear to be back pedaling, leaving the DOT and FRA in the middle, looking foolish.
It's really too bad that this mismanagement, the foolish political antics, and the resultant Congressional backlash, have probably destroyed much chance to reprogram some of the soon to lapse ARRA funds from the line to "nowhere", to the more than one billiion dollars in properly planned, designed, cleared, and/or exempt-safety, capacity, speed, and other operational projects, on long established funding lists, that are truly "shovel ready" in the successful LOSSAN, San Joaquin, and Capitol Corridors.
Most of your analysis of the possibly corrupt and utterly dysfunctional CHSRA is generally right.
Most of your analysis of rail viability in CA is completely wrong. California has significant current regional and intercity rail demand, and significant greater potential demand. This is not from demand in the end to end SFO LAX trip market. It is demand in the market of mid sized urbanized centers an hour or so apart, on already congested corridors, and for access into our major congested urban centers.
There are several behind the scenes efforts to put some of this CHSRA fiasco on hold, for a "do-over". This may start with the postponement (abandonment?) of the clearly "not shovel ready" bloated and useless line to nowhere-the Coalinga to Oildale "starter" segment. This project segment is going to court, and given the poor quality of planning and environmental analysis, is in big trouble.
Brown's members are now quite aware of how mismanaged the CHSRA is. Why do you think that the CEO resigned, and the Chair stepped down? It was time to leave, now that Arnold's lame duck appointee resigned on January 3, and Brown's people had the votes needed to replace the Chair, and the CEO. Brown has been leaned on pretty heavily on this by our Senators, though. So Brown appears to be trying find some more realisitic middle ground, while at the same time giving public "support" to the concept of HSR.
The Feds appear to have been had, by the lies about project readiness from CHSRA, and political pressure from both of our Senators. And, it's been reported that the Feds are not happy. After pressure to have the Secretary come out, at their apparent insistence, to defend this fiasco, some of these folks are now waffling. Suddenly, in response to the terrible press, and self evident dysfunctionality of the CHSRA, some of these folks appear to be back pedaling, leaving the DOT and FRA in the middle, looking foolish.
It's really too bad that this mismanagement, the foolish political antics, and the resultant Congressional backlash, have probably destroyed much chance to reprogram some of the soon to lapse ARRA funds from the line to "nowhere", to the more than one billiion dollars in properly planned, designed, cleared, and/or exempt-safety, capacity, speed, and other operational projects, on long established funding lists, that are truly "shovel ready" in the successful LOSSAN, San Joaquin, and Capitol Corridors.
