High Speed Rail for Cali

[Holland Oates]

http://www.boston.com/business/news/201 ... story.html

California lawmakers gave the green light to start building the nation’s first dedicated high-speed rail line, a multibillion dollar project that will eventually link Los Angeles and San Francisco.

I wonder how bad they can fuck this up. I know for a fact that the rail situation for freight is a fucking nightmare. I can only imagine how bad they can fuck up a high speed rail system.

[baffled]

It's already fucked up. It's lost a shit load of public support. They're over budget, and it's not even really high speed anymore because it has to wind through every district for every fucking Assemblyman in the state.

This state government is so backwards and fucked it gives me a headache.

What's the saying? As California goes, so goes the country? Watch out motherfuckers.

edit:
You know what. This set me off again because we're such a clusterfuck out here. So fuck all of you cock sucking assholes. I hope your states follow ours and you get high speed rails and foie gras bans all over your shitty, landlocked states.

I am irrationally pissed off about this rail project.

[Holland Oates]

It's already fucked up. It's lost a shit load of public support. They're over budget, and it's not even really high speed anymore because it has to wind through every district for every fucking Assemblyman in the state.

This state government is so backwards and fucked it gives me a headache.

What's the saying? As California goes, so goes the country? Watch out motherfuckers.

You niggers will have more important shit to worry about than high speed rail.
http://gawker.com/5926594/parched-natio ... ed-drought
jeezus I hate the fucking gawker

[baffled]

Now I'm even more pissed off. It's not even noon and my day is completely fucked up.

I hate fucking Gawker.

I'm going back to the cereal/comedian thread. And to watch that video about how Rosana wants to fuck all day.

[Holland Oates]

Now I'm even more pissed off. It's not even noon and my day is completely fucked up.

I hate fucking Gawker.

I'm going back to the cereal/comedian thread. And to watch that video about how Rosana wants to fuck all day.

LOL

Check out the Prank Leads to Ass Whoopin thread. That vid raised my spirits a bit.

[baffled]

Fuck it.

Cereal thread, ellis cooper thread, rosana thread, fat girl thread. Nothing else until I feel better.

[Protobuilder]

I ride a high-speed rail on a regular basis - faster and less expensive than flying.

The fact that the US doesn't have a widespread network should be an embarrassment.

[Blaidd Drwg]

I ride a high-speed rail on a regular basis - faster and less expensive than flying.

The fact that the US doesn't have a widespread network should be an embarrassment.

It is...but if you understood the disparate ways the west and east were developed, it would make a lot of sense. at this point, there is no sense whatsoever in putting one in that does not capitalize on existing infrastructure. the rail side of which still wields enormous power and is based on a model well over a century old. the interstate highway system is still a crown jewel of transportation and we treat it like a red headed stepchild

[Pinky]

The fact that the US doesn't have a widespread network should be an embarrassment.

I don't think people who seriously study costs and benefits of transportation projects agree with you. See, for example, this discussion by Ed Glaesar.

What really ought to be an embarrassment is how many people in the US selectively forget that the entire country is not just like the Northeast.

[WildGorillaMan]

Monorail!

[Blaidd Drwg]

Monorail!

If you want a sad tortured history..google Seattle monorail project. what an amazing boondoggle we avoided.

[Pinky]

Most metropolitan light rail projects are a bad idea.

[Blaidd Drwg]

Most metropolitan light rail projects are a bad idea.

Out of curiosity...name three..or one and why. Don't disagree necessarily but I'm only really familiar with a couple systems. Those ones have mixed results

[WildGorillaMan]

Most metropolitan light rail projects are a bad idea.

Out of curiosity...name three..or one and why. Don't disagree necessarily but I'm only really familiar with a couple systems. Those ones have mixed results

The light rail in Edmonton and Calgary has worked out pretty well, especially in Cow Town.

[johno]

Sound Transit. Research the cost per passenger per mile.

[Crust Bucket]

This is the only one that is and going to be worth a shit in CA.

[The Ginger Beard Man]

and foie gras bans

Don't fuck with my foie gras, motherfucker!

[WildGorillaMan]

and foie gras bans

Don't fuck with my foie gras, motherfucker!

This. One solution: revolution. One war: gras war.

[Blaidd Drwg]

i suspect his objection is the allocation of public money that does not achieve a commensurate amount of public good. I can see this, it's often a private benefit.

[Pinky]

Sound Transit. Research the cost per passenger per mile.

Charlotte and Atlanta also come to mind.

Buses are almost always a better deal. They require less initial investment, are cheaper to maintain, are more flexible and carry more riders.

[Blaidd Drwg]

Yes but buses don't do near as well and job of pacifying a neighborhood after shocks troops of gentrification (gays and artists) have moved in.

[johno]

I'm hoping we're only a decade from computer-controlled cars, esp. on gridlocked freeways.

[Blaidd Drwg]

Sound Transit. Research the cost per passenger per mile.

Charlotte and Atlanta also come to mind.

Buses are almost always a better deal. They require less initial investment, are cheaper to maintain, are more flexible and carry more riders.

Do those metrics you're using capture the cost of initial highway construction or annual federal and tax subsidy?

Johno, gridlocked freeways will not improve with computer controlled cars. in the PNW, it's straight up volume to capacity.

[baffled]

and foie gras bans

Don't fuck with my foie gras, motherfucker!

This. One solution: revolution. One war: gras war.

Now you guys are getting it.

[Turdacious]

i suspect his objection is the allocation of public money that does not achieve a commensurate amount of public good. I can see this, it's often a private benefit.

AFAIK, Portland is one of the few cities that has done it well-- expansions received less and less federal funding (as a portion of total costs); the local transportation authority has broad authority; and they have found ways to use private donors to pick up costs for public good (I'm thinking about the route to the airport that allowed for a new mall along the route).