(CA) Governor asks lawmakers to dump bond measure for high-speed rail

[question everything]

Saturday, January 7, 2006

Governor asks lawmakers to dump bond measure for high-speed rail

By: STEVE LAWRENCE - Associated Press

SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is asking lawmakers to scrap a $9.95 billion high-speed rail bond measure already on the November ballot to clear the way for his massive, $222.6 billion public works program.

"We could not afford the entire package of infrastructure (in the governor's plan) if we did the $10 billion for high-speed rail," state Finance Director Mike Genest said Friday. "We did not see it being affordable in a 10-year cycle." He called high-speed rail "a visionary idea (that's) kind of far in the future."

(snip)

The governor's plan includes $68.8 billion in new bond measures to help pay for highway projects, flood control, transit, jails, prisons, new schools and courthouse improvements -- but no money for the so-called bullet trains. The high-speed rail bond would provide $9 billion to help pay for a line between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the first leg of a 700-mile system linking the state's major cities with trains running at speeds of more than 200 mph. It also would provide $950 million for improvements to light rail and conventional inner-city passenger systems.

Supporters tout high-speed rail as a much-needed alternative to crowded freeways and jammed airports as the state's population increases over the next 20 years. But it's had difficulty getting rolling.

(snip)

On the Net:

www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov


http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/01/07/news/state/11_57_321_6_06.txt

[NV Whino]

1. If Arnie's for it, I'm agin it.

If Arnie's agin it, I'm for it.

[imouttahere]

2. There's no doubt we need more light rail in L.A.

but I think the bullet trains are an important part of California's transportation future. Leave it to Arnie not to see that. Why not spend less on freeways, which will never be efficient enough, and more on rail.

[Journeyman]

3. Hey, if we're going into debt, what's another $10 billion? . . .

balanced against a $226 billion program, $68 billion in new bond debt, how can another $10 billion hurt? :sarcasm:

And Gray Davis was recalled for essentially putting the state $8 billion in debt, most of it not his fault.


(Actually, I can't imagine why the first leg of this "high speed rail" system isn't planned for LA to Las Vegas. Plenty of people make that trip, getting a lot of them off the roads would be a public service to all the sober drivers, and California could team with Nevada to pay for it -- seems a better start than a run up the central valley or along the coast, with all the EIR troubles and assorted municipal roadblocks sure to be placed before it.)

[DRoseDARs]

4. Arnie, leave the high-speed rail system alone...

Everytime Transrapid makes a little progress in this country, some asshat pulls it two steps back. At least the east coast projects are fairing better than the California/Nevada project(s).

[AndyTiedye]

5. Dump Some of the Highway Projects Instead

We need some decent rail service in this state.

[Hardrada]

6. He's a predictable schmuck on EVERYTHING isn't he?

Bush-enabler, GOP-enabler. Indict him too.

[xxqqqzme]

7. A visionary idea????

Fire that guy!....whose gonna be driving over those miles of freeways when there is no gas????

[jamesinca]

8. Arnold is basing his money numbers on things we don't have

His "vision" for all of this money is coming from what he hopes will essentially be donations from the private sector and the federal government. He is hoping his "vision" will be financed by money that is not there but will be donated. With the money that is there, that he can actually depend on, he wants to spend it on road improvements. If California gets enough federal and private sector donations and a lot of bond measures, then a rail will be considered if money is left over. His "vision" will put California further in debt as the proud owner of a shiny new antique highway system.

[shanti]

9. FU arnold

this has been in the works for a LOOOONG time, and we'll be damned if we'll let you derail it now!!!

you won't even be around in two years!