Want some good news for a change? Maybe there are a lot more smart
people in Sacramento than formerly believed. Let me say this again: If
they admit to $40 Billion now, you can count on it being at least twice
that if they ever do get to build this pornographic project. Why
pornographic? Because it's testosterone-driven male-enhancement
fantasies. It would be the ultimate "muscle car." Who's driving this
grandiose boondoggle agenda? Old white guys. What's it really all
about? "Follow the money."

Martin
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Posted on Tue, Jan. 30, 2007

High-speed rail project sees drastic cut in funds

By E.J. Schultz
FRESNO BEE
SACRAMENTO - California's perpetually delayed high-speed rail project
faces yet another funding setback. And this one could be fatal, dashing
the dreams of bullet-train enthusiasts, including many in California's
Central Valley.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposes slashing funding for the High Speed
Rail Authority from $14 million to $1.2 million, leaving the group with
just enough to keep its doors open.
"There's really no public purpose for me and my staff to be in office
unless you want to move forward with the project," said Mehdi Morshed,
the authority's executive director, who wants the governor and lawmakers
to approve $103 million for the project next year. "If you don't want to
move forward with the project, then close it down and save yourself some
money."
With his focus on road building, the governor also wants the Legislature
to indefinitely delay a $9.95 billion rail bond slated for the 2008
ballot.
That would clear the way for $29 billion in bonds the governor wants to
put on the ballot to pay for courthouses, schools and dams -- the second
phase of his "strategic growth plan" that will spend billions on roads
but nothing on high-speed rail.
The electric-powered railroad would be similar to the bullet trains
prevalent in Europe and other parts of the world.
Trains traveling up to 220 mph would speed the length of the state,
zooming through the Central Valley with stops in Bakersfield, Fresno,
Merced, Modesto, Stockton and Sacramento. An express trip from San
Francisco to Los Angeles would take just less than 21/2 hours.
Construction costs are estimated to approach $40 billion. But Morshed
said the longer the state waits, the more expensive it will get.
Tracks dedicated to the system for the most part would be built next to
existing tracks. More than 1,000 grade crossings -- where the railroad
goes under or over roads -- are needed.
To build the crossings, the authority needs to secure rights of way. But
that gets harder and more expensive each passing year, especially in
high-growth areas like the Central Valley, where land is getting sucked
up for other uses, Morshed said.
Next year, he said, $40 million is needed to start buying rights of way
and $63 million is needed for planning and engineering.
Established in 1996, the authority has spent about $30 million so far to
plan the route and do environmental reviews, Morshed said.
The authority's budget has $702,000 for salaries and benefits this year.
Three full-time employees and one part-timer are on staff, with plans to
hire three more full-time staff members in the next month.
All that money would be wasted if the project were halted, board members
said Monday.
To date, the Legislature has shown little enthusiasm for the project.
Rail bond ballot measures have been delayed twice, in 2004 and 2006.

(c) 2007 ContraCostaTimes.com and wire service sources. All Rights
Reserved.
http://www.contracostatimes.com

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Martin Engel
1621 Stone Pine Lane
Menlo Park, CA 94025
650:323-1670
martinengel@earthlink.net
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