First segment of high-speed rail hits another snag

[alp227]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

SACRAMENTO — It was supposed to be the easiest section of the High Speed Rail project: a 119-mile stretch in the Central Valley that would serve as the testing ground for the high speed trains before tracks are expanded south to Los Angeles and north to San Francisco.

But it’s proving to be more difficult than anticipated. On Wednesday, the High Speed Rail Authority informed the Obama Administration, in a contract amendment, that it expects the Central Valley track to be complete by 2022 instead of 2018 as originally projected.

Difficulty buying property and legal challenges contributed to the new timeline.

The four-year change sparked an onslaught of criticism from those who already oppose the $64 billion project, particularly Central Valley Republican lawmakers who have promised to block any additional federal funding once the current grant expires next year.

Read more: http://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/First-segment-of-high-speed-rail-hits-another-snag-7683976.php?t=821c06a99c83ae78b0&cmpid=twitter-premium

[itsrobert]

1. abandon it and fast track the Hyperloop. n/t

It's already outdated and won't be as fast as originally proposed.

[bananas]

5. Hyperloop would have ten times the property rights and legal challenges

HSR carries ten times as many people as hyperloop, you'd need ten hyperloops for the same capacity, requiring ten times as much property acquisition.

[killbotfactory]

10. the idea is to build the majority of it above or along side existing freeways

reducing the cost of acquiring property rights.

multiple pods and the sheer speed of it will be enough to address capacity.

[elleng]

2. 'Difficulty buying property and legal challenges'

will likely be the case throughout, for those wondering why 'we' can't do passenger rail these days.

It's just not the same. Golden Spike Ceremony Re-Enact

[question everything]

3. Indeed. Especially in densely built and popullated California (nt)

[rafeh1]

4. China hst

Can do la san diego in 30min
Those Republican crazies just want nothing done.

[trudyco]

6. we need high speed people movers

right above the freeways. I suppose it won't work in CA, though. Too earthquake prone.

[dembotoz]

7. best advertising for mass transit is being in slow traffic and watching the trains pass you by

[Throd]

8. Just pull the plug on this boondoggle.

[ripcord]

9. They are calling it the Browndoggle now

If it were truly high speed rail I would support it but there are going to be segments of low speed rail. There is also the fact that the voter initiative that authorized this project set a minimum travel time, budget and construction time frame, none of those things will be met, they won't even be close. The will of the voters is being ignored, with all the changes they have made that don't meet the authorization threshold they should hold another vote on the issue but that won't happen because there is no chance of it winning.

[maxsolomon]

12. Yes, just let the Regressives win

nothing is more important than what Republican Ranchers want.

[Throd]

13. 100+ billion dollars on a choo-choo from Reedley to Madera?

If you think this is a good idea, then I have a Bay Bridge to sell you. (at six times whatever we agree upon).

[Jesus Malverde]

11. I like the strategy...

Start in the central valley, the cheapest California land. Joining two cow towns with a bullet train is just what we need and will make the concept a success.

Why build around LA or SF, which was the voter mandate. Imagine a 15 minute ride from SF to San Jose, keep imagining.

Over time land around LA and SF will only get cheaper....

The coast is full of state and federal land that made available to the project would make it cheaper and actually provide a direct link between LA and the bay area.

[Old Union Guy]

14. It will never be built. There is no real intention to build it. A lie to facilitate corruption. n/t