Ben,

Polls won't do much on the legal issues associated with the EIS/EIR deficiencies, especially as it impacts those who can prove certain deficiencies that might need a "do-over", which may be a more likely outcome for this kind of litigation.

Polls indicate that with the proper "push" questions, that folks are not that supportive of the direction of the CHSRA, and have some "misgivings" about how the CHSRA project is defined, being managed, the bloated costs, and the importance of this expenditure compared to laying off your child's teacher? I am certainly one of those respondents.....

By contrast, there is polling that indicates a very strong support for more regional rail passenger services and generic "high speed" rail, in general. This is because of traffic congestion, fuel price uncertainty, and limited and/or costly air services to many current and potential rail served markets. I am also one of these respondents, as well....

And, then there is the current and long term growth trends in use of our regional and intercity systems in California. Which continue despite a short term fall off from the "great recession" and some hefty fare increases in the last few years. Traffic and fuel price uncertainty are also two prime movers in these numbers, as is a changing demographic, and is also partially due to costly and limited air service options between many of these short hop markets in CA. Which might be something worth looking at, if one were developing a rail passenger system which would be responsive to market demands?

What are we doing and why are we doing it? The failure of CHSRA to answer that question very well, or to explain why it is worth it, may explain the disconnect in this seeming contradiction in polling.