It is hardly mystifying as to why the Authority has gone ahead and approved starting this project with this "sub-set", which in spite of Director Lynne Schenk's statement is indeed a "train to nowhere".

(as was pointed out in a news article Corcoran, the southern end of this plan is home of Corcoran State Prison; maybe you might want to visit Charles Manson, who resides there)

Over-riding the whole decision is the mandate from the Feds, that the Authority must by Dec 31, submit a plan to use the ARRA funds, that the plan had to be located in the Central Valley and that the total budget for this plan with the limited funds available made this "sub-set", of a usable segment, the choice of the Authority. Failure of the Authority to get this paperwork completed and submitted by the end of this year, would result in forfeit of those funds.

So it is all about this Fed grant of the money, and as a result we get this ridiculous proposal, which was unanimously approved by the Board on Thursday.

There are tons of problems with what has been approved, not the least of which is the legality of using Prop 1A bonds funds, which are part of the proposed funding.

Prop 1A demands full funding for a "usable HSR segment". This plan, by the Authority's own admission is not a "usable HSR segment", just a "sub-set" of a usable segment ( as an example: the plan does not include electrification as one omission --- they simply don't have the funds to include electrification)

An interesting exchange on the legal problems of this starting plan can be viewed at:

Web Link

So how much per mile will this segment cost? What would be the cost of alternatives? My guess is that people could be chauffeured in limos or luxury shuttles for far less.
This is growth-inducing in the valley. The straightest path from LA is not through these towns.
Seems like an unwise decision to me.

It seems that nothing makes people happy. You will wish you had it zooming through your area when it is built and in your 70's and 80's no longer wish to expose yourself at airline security stations.
Human nature is the same, rich of poor. I just will continue taking my yacht to San Pedro and then my limousine will take me to the Bel Air Hotel once every six weeks to see my children.

What’s the biggest danger right now? That the Peninsula relaxes its concerns. “Oh, this will never happen. They will never get the money.”

There’s something called the 80/20 effect. That’s when a project is 80% complete and everyone can now relax for that last 20%. That’s a huge mistake. In short, our fight is far from over.

Many, including Pat Burt, are ready to shift their attention to Caltrain. No, Mayor Burt, the HSR problem has not gone away. There is still enormous support for it in the State Legislature.

Caltrain is a distraction. Once we have finally resolved the HSR issue (with its termination) we can give our full attention to bailing out Caltrain.

The new Governor was a participant in the early days of the pre-cursers to the CHSRA and an avid supporter of this train. There is no evidence that he won’t continue to support it and the rail authority, even if that body is a crazy-house.

The Democratic caucus in California single-mindedly supports the train, regardless of the bad behaviors and mismanagement by its promoters. Why? Because, especially for them, it’s not about the train; it’s about the money.

Just as to a hammer everything looks like a nail, so with our two Senators, several Representatives and Democrats in the State Legislature, the ARRA stimulus bailout funds are the hammer that will solve all of California’s economic problems, simply because they will be spent, regardless of how or for what.

As I say, our fight is far from over. This is not merely a Peninsula problem, HSR is a state problem and it will take all our efforts to get our government to stop this mindless juggernaut.