Arnold Vants Der High-Speed Rail

[Zkribbler]

I disagree with Schwarzenegger on almost everything -- but not on this issue!

State seeks $4.7-billion high-speed rail grant
Schwarzenegger says state and local funds would match the federal money.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was joined by several state and local officials Friday at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to announce California's application for $4.7 billion in federal money to fund a high-speed rail line.

Schwarzenegger said Californians would match the federal grant dollar for dollar with state and local funds, including money from the high-speed rail bond.

"It's disgraceful for America to be so far behind in terms of infrastructure," Schwarzenegger said, referring to international high-speed rail projects. "America must catch up. . . . We need to now have Washington's help" with this project, he said.

Officials including Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles; Los Angeles City Council members Eric Garcetti and Janice Hahn; Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle; and Dale Bonner, state secretary of business, transportation and housing, were among those who stood alongside the governor to show unity in the application for federal funds and praised the project because they said it would create some 130,000 jobs.

"High-speed rail is going to be a big engine for California's economy," Bass said.

Also in attendance were groups from UCLA, USC and Santa Monica College affiliated with the California Public Interest Research Group. They chanted slogans in favor of high-speed rail.

Although many of those at Friday's news conference spoke of unity in moving forward with the project, one official who did not attend released an opposing statement.

"I support the concept of high-speed rail but believe there should be more than one alternative studied in downtown Los Angeles. Any EIR should include more than one option," said Los Angeles City Council member Ed Reyes. "That's why I introduced a resolution last month urging the High Speed Rail Authority to study other possible locations for a downtown rail station.

"I have some serious concerns about how the proposed rail route will impact our neighborhoods, including those along the Los Angeles River. Especially since we have invested more than $80 million to provide new parks at the Cornfield and Taylor Yard," he said.

[Drake Tungsten]

If Californians want high-speed rail, that's fine. The citizens of California should have to pay for it themselves, however. There's no reason taxpayers in other states should have to help pay for a high-speed rail line that won't benefit them.

[Dinner]

Even if he gets the grant of stimulus funds we're still going to need another large state bond issue to finish this project but this should be enough to at least get around half of the system up and running. I'm just kind of pissed they want to work on the section in Northern California first when all the people are in Southern California. Since we're the ones who are going to end up paying for most of this we should get first crack at it.

[Dinner]

If Californians want high-speed rail, that's fine. The citizens of California should have to pay for it themselves, however. There's no reason taxpayers in other states should have to help pay for a high-speed rail line that won't benefit them.

There is as much reason as us having to pay for freeways in other states which we don't use every day. Yet pay them we do. In fact, you sponges in fly over country constantly take our money so it's time to give some back to daddy.

[Drake Tungsten]

The Interstate Highway System was created to facilitate inter-state transportation (hence the name) and can therefore be justifiably viewed as a federal responsibilty. It's not in any way comparable to a California-only high speed rail line.

[Dinner]

Because it will no doubt be expanded shortly after it is done. I imagine Las Vegas, Reno, and Phoenix will all be options. Other possible future link ups to the Northwest via Portland and Seattle could also be worked out. Of course, first you have to have something to link too and that's where the current project comes in. Las Vegas to LA route is probably the surest thing as it would be very high volume.

[Drake Tungsten]

Because it will no doubt be expanded shortly after it is done.

There are actually significant doubts about that. High-speed rail in California doesn't pass a cost-benefit analysis, let alone extensions to neighboring states.

Even if it is expanded, there's no reason taxpayers in any state not connected to the network should have to help pay for it. California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon and Washington can pay for it together if they want, but they should leave the rest of the country out of it.

[Zkribbler]

So you're saying that the federal government shouldn't build a fort, a bridge, a road, a levee, a canal, a national park, a shipyard or anything unless it would benefit all of the states??

[Drake Tungsten]

Yes. Most of those things do benefit all the states.

[Dinner]

You blood suckers are constantly taking money from us for things which are entirely local so I really don't care if the never do wells whine. This is a great project which will employ over 100,000 people so it is exactly what the Stimulus funds are supposed to be for.

[Drake Tungsten]

You're right. The stimulus was meant for wasteful projects in Democratic areas that would never pass an unbiased cost-benefit analysis.

[Dinner]

[DanS]

Drake is obviously right on this issue. Further, high-speed rail in California isn't "shovel-ready" and therefore should get none of the $8 billion laid-out in the stimulus.

[Tuberski]

Plus, Californians are douches.

ACK!

[Dinner]

Drake is obviously right on this issue. Further, high-speed rail in California isn't "shovel-ready" and therefore should get none of the $8 billion laid-out in the stimulus.

There are so many things the rich states pay for in other states which are strictly local yet pay them we do because we want our backwards countrymen to be a little less third world. High speed rail projects were specifically mentioned as one of the goals of the stimulus and we have one which is ready even if Dan doesn't think so. The route is surveyed, we have $12 billion in local funds already allocated, and these federal matching funds are supposed to specifically go to states which pony up their own cash. We've done all that and the money is ours. Live with it.

http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/

Contracts have been awarded and notices of intent to begin construction have already been posted for the Fresno to Bakersfield Section, the Merced to Fresno Section, and the the San Diego to Los Angeles Section. This stuff is ready to go and most certainly is shovel ready. In fact construction was already planned to begin even without the federal matching funds because we already sold $12 billion in bonds but the matching funds from the stimulus bill will indeed help things move along more quickly. Plus this type of infrastructure spending is just about the best form of stimulus out there.