California bullet train's latest woe: Will it be high speed?

[OneCrazyDiamond]

https://apnews.com/article/business-gavin-newsom-san-francisco-california-high-speed-rail-authority-state-budgets-d6667f05a1ae22989bb63ceb8aaf4f7c

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A new and fundamental debate has emerged in the battle over California’s high-speed rail project that could again significantly downgrade the troubled effort: Should the trains even be high speed when the system launches?

That’s a conversation Democrats in the state Assembly want to have amid negotiations over whether to release about $4 billion in bond money for the project. The California High-Speed Rail Authority said it needs that money to continue construction beyond next summer. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom included it in his state budget, but negotiations between his administration and the Legislature have stalled. They’re hoping to reach an agreement when the Legislature returns for session in January.

It’s the latest setback for the project, originally expected to cost $33 billion and be completed last year. Today the vision of shuttling passengers between Los Angeles and San Francisco in less than three hours is a distant dream. The first leg of rideable track, connecting two cities in the Central Valley, won’t start until at least 2029, and the project’s costs have ballooned to $98 billion.


I didn't vote for another diesel train.

[LisaM]

1. California is a beautiful state.

In fact,.we live in a beautiful country. Why do people want to rocket through it? With all the capacity we have for working online now, why not just sit back and enjoy the ride?

[OneCrazyDiamond]

2. It could go 2 miles an hour,

but it shouldn't run on diesel.

I think the speed thing is a marketing tool to get LA to SF drivers off the roads, and save the CO2 from all those cars on 101 and the 5.

[Auggie]

3. I'd like to put a bullet in the whole project

Didn't believe in it. Didn't see value to it. Didn't vote for it.

Too late now. Build the damn thing and build it right.