Do we need Prop 1 - High Speed Rail?

[pinto]

I'm torn on this one. It seems to undermine existing AMTRAK operations and there is debate about the proposed route, yet the supporters tout the big works prospects of the plan. Lots of jobs. Lots of positive side effects from a project this big.

Thoughts? It's a lot of money...

[Newsjock]

1. It's a lot of money now

But if we don't start now, it won't be ready when we really need it.

[pinto]

2. Good point. That's my take at this point. But what about AMTRAK?

They already run the San Joaquin up the valley.

[goodgd_yall]

3. This is for bullet train service

More like the trains Japan uses. We really need that, I think, if we want people to use trains. I was envious of the high speed trains in Japan.

[AndyTiedye]

5. and then you have to take a BUS Unless Bakersfield is Your Destination

[AndyTiedye]

4. This Would Not Undermine AMTRAK, It Would UPGRADE It

[SahaleArm]

6. Yes for bullet trains n/t

[Auggie]

7. No

I want to see more local mass transit that people can use daily. There are plenty of new job opportunities right there.

[Oeditpus Rex]

8. I don't think we need a 'bullet train' right now

I'm also skeptical about the number of jobs 1A's proponents claim it would create. It's too easy to tout such things in a campaign ad, like "It will save taxpayer dollars" and others. Then again, I don't know the logistics of building, running and maintaining such a system, so maybe there will be lots of jobs.

I'm also looking at the future, and not just California's. If 1A passes, and it works over a number of years, it could well prove a watershed in national transportation. America needs a viable alternative to air travel.

I've gone back and forth with this one, and I've decided to vote yes.

[Tektonik]

13. I'm sure lots of the jobs stemming from the railway line would be temp construction ones

It would likely kill the Amtrak Surfliner line too.

[AnAnonymousDemocrat]

9. Voting no here

Getting around the state isn't a big problem. Moving with the big metro areas IS a problem. We need local mass transit - especially in L.A. The state's economy loses lots of money because of transportation problems in L.A., and the city of Los Angeles can't solve the problem alone.

Anyway - NO on Prop 1A.

[Tektonik]

14. Introducing people to mass tranist is one of the major initiatives we need to take on

There are TONS of people out there in the burbs who have never taken a bus or a train in their lives, and whenever big projects open up like this, people tend to try 'em out then start discovering other existing modes of public transport, and thus a movement towards expanding pub transport is more likely (heck it's been burgeoning in LA the past ten years).

BTW LA is getting MUCH MUCH better with the orange, gold, red and blue lines. The DASH downtown is better than sex. LA is going to be fine soon with planned expansions of the orange line to chatsworth, the gold line to east LA, and the red line to the ocean. LA still has poor pub transit, but when a metro area of ten million starts from virtually ZERO public transit ('cept mediocre buses) in the early nineties, the situation isn't going to be solved for another ten or fifteen years I'd assume.

The problem is that our buses blow so hard, and the metro board has not had the guts to just sit down and wipe the slate clean and start over drawing completely new bus lines and schedules. Some of the lines are so poorly laid out and haven't been updated in decades it's very sad (especially the lines that go from the west valley to Burbank and such).

[roveinjail]

10. yes here

need it badly, and this will get something started for an improved transportation system.

[pinto]

11. I voted Yes.

It was the only prop I had mixed feelings about, but went ahead and cast my support for it.

[Tektonik]

12. Hopefully everyone here voted yes

Not only would it jumpstart our state economy, but it would help cultivate a culture of public transit in CA.

If high speed rail is successful from SF to LA, trust me it would spread like a wildfire to SD then LV, etc.