It's not going to go away. The project described in this article is
the proverbial foot-in-the-door.
The CHSRA is relentless in promoting what would be the biggest
pork-barrel project in the history of humans on this planet.
Furthermore, the article claims that the first bond issue for $10
billion (in 2008) would be half of the total cost. That's untrue and
nonsense. The present total budget is set at $37 billion. However,
we all know that this too is a low-ball number. Based on other
recent mega-projects (Boston Big Dig, for example) you can expect
three times that $37 billion.

At today's Caltrain meeting, their people made clear once more how
their goal of electrification is tops on the priority list. Caltrain
lusts for CHRSA to run their proposed system on the Caltrain rail
corridor through San Jose to San Francisco. Why? Because CHRSA will
pick up the tab for electrification, grade separations, additional
tracks and whatever else they dream of. And, by the way, here's some
more games with numbers. Electrification is presently pencilled out
at $600 million, plus or minus. Realistically, think $1 billion!
Without the high speed rail bond issue, where will Caltrain get that
$1 billion?

More about today's Caltrain meeting in another email.

Martin
======================================

Published Tuesday, April 3, 2007, by the Los Angeles Daily News

Public comment solicited about high-speed rail

By Karen Maeshiro
Staff Writer

PALMDALE -- A meeting will be held next week to gather public input
on a proposed high-speed rail system that would run through the
Antelope Valley.

The meeting is part of the environmental review process for the
segment between Palmdale and Los Angeles and will provide residents
with an opportunity to learn about the project, ask questions and
provide feedback.

"The scoping meeting gives the public an opportunity to talk to the
lead agency and consultants who are doing the work to provide input
on what they think ought to be covered in the environmental
documents," said Dan Leavitt, deputy director of the California
High-Speed Rail Authority.

The proposed alignment for the Los Angeles-to-Palmdale segment would
use existing rail lines along San Fernando Road through Los Angeles,
Glendale, Burbank and San Fernando before continuing through Santa
Clarita and into Palmdale.

Meetings will be held in cities along the corridor. The Palmdale
meeting will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. April 12
at Palmdale City Hall, 38300 Sierra Highway.

Other meetings are set for Glendale, Los Angeles and Sylmar.

Written comments regarding the project will be accepted until April
27 and can be sent to Leavitt, California High-Speed Rail Authority,
<http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov> Los Angeles -- Palmdale Segment,
925 L St., Suite 1425, Sacramento, CA 95814. [BATN: "Yes, please, we
want your input printed onto very thinly-sliced trees and delivered
to us via Pony Express." BATN suspects most would prefer to email
comments to Leavitt at <dleavitt@...>.]

"We are hopeful the public will come to these," Leavitt said. "We
are excited about this work. We believe this project is essential
for California's transportation future."

A $9.95 billion high-speed rail bond measure is set for the November
2008 ballot. The measure has twice been pulled from previous ballots.

The proposal would generate about half the funding needed to build a
rail line linking Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno and San Francisco
with trains running at top speeds of more than 200 mph.

The proposed alignment would follow Highway 58 from Bakersfield to
Mojave, then run south along the Union Pacific railroad tracks
through Lancaster, Palmdale and Soledad Canyon. Plans call for the
system to be expanded so it also eventually reaches San Diego and
Sacramento. [BATN: See http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/eir_final
for maps and EIR documents.]

Rail authority officials said the system could carry more than 100
million passengers annually by 2030 and reduce traffic by removing
more than 50 million auto trips per year.

At-grade railroad street crossings would be separated from vehicle
traffic, and as many as 450,000 jobs would be created under the full
project.

karen.maeshiro@...
(661) 267-5744

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