High-speed rail price tag drops by $30 billion in new plan

The new plan for high-speed rail, with sensible changes in alignment and the reduction in cost, is a very positive step forward. Meanwhile, the arguments put forth by opponents of California's high-speed rail project have not changed, consisting almost entirely of calling it a boondoggle and loudly branding the experienced rail professionals as stupid. ("Loud" is an essential element to the anti-rail argument.) Those who understand and support high-speed rail must persevere, because it has been proven both popular and successful everywhere else in the world for more than 30 years. (They are building a high-speed rail line in Uzbekistan, for heaven's sake!) In particular, Governor Jerry Brown is to be congratulated and admired for having the political courage in today's highly-charged partisan environment to stand firm in support of the project and against the ideologues and the yahoos.

Well Jim, just how do you suppose we are going to pay for HSR? It was sold on a pck of lies and is now in full bait and switch mode. It won't deliver anything that was promissed and will be a huge money suck for the rest of our lives, our childrens lives and there children's lives. We don't have the money. What part of that don't you understand?

The PROJECTED costs for government projects go down all the time. Bureaucrats just keep sharpening those pencils until voters say "yes."

But does anyone believe the ACTUAL cost will be lower? If so, I have a very cheap Bay Bridge to sell you. I'll even sell it at the PROJECTED cost. It'll be a bargain.

There is a another thread on this topic, based on an updated version of the story: Web Link

So there is yet another estimate of costs, again from those who will not be around to be accountable for them, or at least not risking their own money. Let us see who will commit to provide the rest of the money, even if still more is needed, before we go ahead. Could we be getting a message because such funding is still uncertain?