Good article. Getting HSR done is complex. Mostly, politically. But also technically.
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Good article. Getting HSR done is complex. Mostly, politically. But also technically.
There is a constant flow of cars on overpasses over fault lines throughout the state.Quote:
Originally Posted by sediment
Loma Prieta isn't so distant a memory, I-5/CA-14 were damaged by Northridge.
Cities in bullet train's path have mixed reactions
Palmdale welcomes the new line, but some communities are taking a wait-and-see approach. Others are antagonistic. Next year the rail authority will begin the legal process of defining the route between Bakersfield and downtown L.A.
Bullet train gets mixed reaction from cities potentially in its path - latimes.com
Without reading, here's my guess:
"Train can come through our town, as long it stops. Otherwise, do not come through our town."
They can still plan a tunnel through the San Gabriel Mountains. 15 miles, from that bend in The 14 to the terminus of The 2.
Could follow Angeles Forest Highway (County N3) until about Kenticky Springs Canyon Road, when the Highway starts to get curvy.
While it would be nice to have some kind of speed limit in urban areas, the only way to meet the 2hr 40m mandate is to have an express train in addition to the ones that will stop five times between Sylmar and San Jose. The stopping trains would take 3 hours or more.
For you Disneyland fans that live in the San Fransisco area:
http://us.megabus.com/.aspxQuote:
Megabus.com expands service to/from Los Angeles, San Francisco and six cities
- Daily express, city-to-city bus service with free Wi-Fi from $1
- All seats for travel during Dec.12-19 to/from newest cities will be $1
- Company returns to West Coast based on customer demand
NEW YORK, NY (November 28, 2012) – Megabus.com, the first city-to-city, express bus company with fares from $1, today announced expansion to California and Nevada. California and Nevada residents can now travel express to/from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Calif., Riverside, Calif., Las Vegas, Sparks/Reno, Nev., Sacramento, Calif., and San Jose, Calif. for as low as $1. Frequent daily service will begin Dec. 12, and customers can begin booking travel at www.megabus.com today.
Fares start as low as $1 every day and increase gradually as the traveling date gets closer. Customers are encouraged to book early to secure $1 fares.
“Express bus service from new hubs in San Francisco and Los Angeles is another way megabus.com keeps Americans connected,” said Mike Alvich, megabus.com’s vice president of marketing and public relations. "As California and Nevada residents continue to look for ways to stretch their dollar, megabus.com is committed to safe, affordable travel during this holiday season and beyond.”
To celebrate the new service, during first week of travel Dec. 12-19, all tickets will be $1. Megabus.com always offers fares as low as $1, with many other affordable fares on all of its services.
“Megabus.com, which previously served West Coast residents in 2007-2008, has returned based on customer demand,” said Alvich. “We’ve seen impressive growth throughout North America and are confident that our 21st century double-decker buses with Wi-Fi and power outlets combined with our outstanding prices will be a success among California and Nevada residents.”
More than 80 new jobs will be created with megabus.com’s expansion into Nevada and California.
In addition, megabus.com has partnered with Clean Air-Cool Planet, a national nonprofit organization that works to reduce carbon emissions and help create a sustainable environment. For every new Facebook friend and Twitter follower added on Nov. 28, megabus.com will donate $1 to Clean Air-Cool Planet; megabus.com will present a check to Clean Air-Cool Planet in December.
Megabus.com, a subsidiary of Coach USA, launched in April 2006 and has served more than 22 million travelers. In addition to affordable fares, megabus.com offers customers state-of-the-art, green-certified double-decker buses with free Wi-Fi, power outlets, seat belts, restrooms and are wheelchair accessible.
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Thinking about a Vegas trip...
https://5780613a-a-62cb3a1a-s-sites....attredirects=0
The link it to a map of California(and some Nevada) Passenger Rail Route, with bus and ferry connections.
This looks like a tourist line, in a city that is just as nice to vist as Detroit with its people mover.
http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2...city_clerk.php
LaHood defends California high-speed rail plan
LaHood defends California high-speed rail plan - The Hill's Transportation Report
California High Speed Rail Blog » CHSRA Says July 2013 Groundbreaking Still On Track
Quote:
...The new Northern California Regional Director for the California High Speed Rail Authority, Ben Tripousis, said that the project remained on schedule for a groundbreaking in the Central Valley this July. He also pointed out that the project’s phases could be complete by 2029, delivering SF to LA service within the statutory 2 hours and 40 minute time...
Quote:
One reason why intercity rail is needed in California is that the air route from SF to LA is almost at capacity, as San Francisco’s Director of Transportation Policy Gillian Gillett pointed out at today’s talk:
High-speed rail is also expected to stimulate the region’s economic growth by allowing San Francisco International Airport to concentrate on expanding long-distance and international airline service, instead of continuing to be bogged down by north-south regional flights, Gillett said.No wonder the Bay Area’s airports support high speed rail. They increasingly find the short haul shuttle flights to be burdensome, but without an alternative they’re going to continue offering them at the expense of the longer distance routes they would much rather serve.
“We are ‘this close’ to getting congestion management by the Federal Aviation Administration,” she said. “We are reaching our limits in the air.”
Anti-HSR forces seem to think that the status quo is just fine. But as passenger counts at the airports and on Caltrain rise, it’s as clear as ever that HSR is vital to the future prosperity of San Francisco and the Bay Area as a whole.
Ray LaHood Mounts Another Strong Defense of California HSRCalifornia High Speed Rail Blog » Ray LaHood Mounts Another Strong Defense of California HSRQuote:
LaHood’s comments today make it clear that President Obama remains strongly supportive not just of high speed rail in general, but of the California HSR project in particular. California HSR planners have pointed out that they don’t need additional federal money until 2015, which happens to be the earliest possible moment when federal funds are likely to be available since that’s the soonest that Democrats can reclaim the House of Representatives.
It’s still unclear whether LaHood will stay or go as Transportation Secretary. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is considered a front-runner if LaHood leaves, but it is becoming less clear that LaHood is planning to leave at all. Either way, this is another welcome vote of confidence in the project, even if the next two years don’t look any more promising for federal HSR funding than the last two.
California high-speed rail cost figures coming in, but no one will see them yet - San Jose Mercury NewsQuote:
The rail authority has budgeted $1.2 billion to $1.8 billion for the project's initial leg between Madera and Fresno. But the actual prices submitted by firms will prove whether that estimate is accurate -- and could set a precedent for whether the $69 billion estimate is off the mark, as skeptics claim.
The state does not have room to spare, possessing less than a fifth of the money needed to build the full San Francisco-to-Los Angeles rail line.
Rail authority officials are going to great lengths to prevent prematurely revealing the bids.
Not about this side of the country, but an interesting point.
Amtrak plan in D.C. dwarfs All Aboard Florida plans in cost - South Florida Business Journal
Take a look at the map and you will wonder why everything is taking so long to get done in California.
In this link, you will see Mexico is likely to have better rail service than California does. President of Mexico outlines plan to rejuvenate passenger rail service - The Washington PostQuote:
It's common knowledge that the Northeast Corridor is Amtrak's best line, but the northeast is not the only place in the US where a lot of people ride intercity trains. This map by Michael Hicks shows that California, the area around Chicago, and the Pacific Northwest also stand out.
http://greatergreater.com/images/201...kridership.png
In the map, each circle represents one Amtrak station. The larger the circle, the more riders there are at that station.