Tuesday, March 30, 2021

SORT-OF HIGH SPEED RAIL IN CA DELAYED YET AGAIN

by Bob Walsh


Two weeks ago the High Speed Rail Authority in the formerly great state of California announced a new and improved timetable for finished the 65 mile section of track between North Buttcrack and South Buttcrack in the San Joaquin Valley.  It is necessary for the state to at least pretend to be working on the project or they will have to pay a ton of money back to the feds.

Yesterday the HSR clowns announced yet another two year delay in the minimal project.  April 2025, if the wind keeps blowing in the right direction and nothing else bad or stupid happens.  

The current issue is land acquistion.  Since the project was approved by voters 13 years ago I could see why the state could have not gotten around to securing a right-of-way yet.  (Not really I can't.)

The project was originally supposed to run trains at 220 mph between LA and SF.  Now they are talking at running trains at maybe 120 mph between Bakersfield and Merced.  I am reasonably certain that most people who might have occasion to travel between Bakersfield and Merced will want a car when they get there and will be in no hurry to make the trip.

The God-Emperor Gavin Newsom is DESPERATE to not have to give back money to the feds.  He is also desperate to get more union construction jobs and doesn't really care about pissing off the farmers whose land is being ripped up because they are not going to vote for his ass anyway.   

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