52% want (CA) bullet train stopped, poll finds (LA Times)

[MADem]

75. I was serious.

You don't see a day when the capability of a high speed train--on a new transport system, either tracks or maglev or what-have-you--- to transport cargo much, much quicker at the same price point might not arrive? Right now there's no capability save air to deliver items at that degree of speed. I've driven up and down CA on the highways, and seen a ton of trucks. Take those off the road and you're taking bread from drivers' mouths and profit from trucking companies.

I could see them having a dog in this fight, and perhaps pushing back against the plan for that reason, their own self-interest, that is all I am saying.

I also am not sold on this expenditure--I would like to see high speed trains, but coast-to-coast...I just don't see a CA system up and down the west coast as benefiting working people....and I thought that was the idea behind the expenditure. I won't tear my hair out if they go ahead with it, mind you, I just think it's a bit of a high price tag, and these things always go OVER budget, it seems.

As I've said elsewhere in this thread, one way to boost train ridership IMMEDIATELY--and it would be immediate AND sustainable--would be to permit pets on AMTRAK. Make people reserve in advance, use older cars (wee wee and pet smell, after all) require people to either hire a bedroom or keep the animal in a cage, and charge for the service robustly. PEOPLE WOULD PAY. I know I would! It's the inability to take my dogs and bird along with me that have kept me off Amtrak and in my doggone car half a dozen times in the last year.