Western Railroad Discussion > Tehachapi 2MT

Draft EIR on Tehachapi 2MT project:

http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist6/environmental/envdocs/d6/draft_tehachapi_mnd.pdf

Note timetable for work on page 9 (page 23 of PDF). Enjoy the reading!

Bruce

If you look at the Large map of the Area, it shows some trackage extending North from Monolith, which is the former Narrow Gauge.

Gonna take forever to get done! Can't wait to see how this project turns out!

It's a shame that 207 pages of data need to be assembled to appease everybody in California due to the political correctness requirement. Just build it and get the goods moving; that would be the ideal way to handle this bottleneck.

>>>The existing rail line is expected to reach capacity by 2011. It is anticipated that
remaining operational capacity, defined as the available train slots, will soon reach zero.<<<

I guess we're at that point now.

I see the consultants and bureaucrats have earned their money and already have driven up the cost due to "regulations." Those regs don't help business in dysfunctional California for the most part. Also noted in the report: no bikers will be adversely impacted in the Tehachapi Mountains. Thank goodness we don't offend them.

Can we now get on with the plan?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/13/11 18:02 by stash.

They even mention railfans......

In the vicinity of Tunnel 2, railfans view trains approaching from the east as well as from
the south through the tunnel from a turnout along Caliente Bodfish Road. The new track
would bypass the tunnel through a graded slot about 67 feet west of the tunnel.
In addition, a well-used path leads down the slope on the south side of the ridge above
Tunnel 2. This path ends at a vantage point west of the south portal. Apart from the path
noted, a dirt road leading from Caliente Bodfish Road to the hilltop area above the tunnel
provides vehicular access to the hilltop above the tunnel for railfans. Views to the
southeast and northeast from that vantage point would include the proposed double-track
on both sides of the tunnel.
These three viewing positions are considered to be highly sensitive due to the recreation
activity they support. The proposed double-track north and south of the tunnel and the
tunnel bypass would be in the foreground of these views. Given the sensitivity of the
views and the proximity and visibility of project features, these are considered to be
critical public views

md Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They even mention railfans......
>
>

Yep, there are some very high up people in BNSF who are railfans, and not necessarily "in the closet". :-)
C.

Carol Voss
Bakersfield, CA

atsffan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So it appears BNSF is taking on the majority (if
> not all) of the activities to double track those
> sections? I just keep reading "BNSF will . . ."
> over and over.
>
> Any insight into the percentage cost split between
> UP & BNSF?
>
> Richard

Total bill is to be paid by BNSF since they are the one with the majority of traffic over the loop. UP said basically "go ahead, if you want it, you pay for it".
C.

Carol Voss
Bakersfield, CA

Half BNSF, half California transportation bond money.

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

I'm surprised Rusty ain't mentioned because I bet he kicked fans out of that area!

ProAmtrak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm surprised Rusty ain't mentioned because I bet
> he kicked fans out of that area!

I hear Rusty works for the BNSF in the Flagstaff area now...


AM

stash Wrote:
>
> >>>The existing rail line is expected to reach
> capacity by 2011. It is anticipated that
> remaining operational capacity, defined as the
> available train slots, will soon reach zero.<<<
>


I haven't had a chance to look this over yet, but that statement seems false! There's not nearly as many trains over Tehachapi now as there were in the 2003-2007 years. Then again, back then it seemed like only on Mondays would they shut down the line for significant maintenance where as now they seem to shut it down every day which leaves most traffic jammed through there at night. If the traffic were more balanced throughout the day, Tehachapi would generally have plenty of capacity at current levels. That's not to say this project isn't needed should the economy/rail traffic grow again, which I'm sure it will someday.

Tom

Impressive that they included pictures of future tunnel 2 and tunnel 10.....

stash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It's a shame that 207 pages of data need to be
> assembled to appease everybody in California due
> to the political correctness requirement. Just
> build it and get the goods moving; that would be
> the ideal way to handle this bottleneck.
>
> >>>The existing rail line is expected to reach
> capacity by 2011. It is anticipated that
> remaining operational capacity, defined as the
> available train slots, will soon reach zero.<<<
>
> I guess we're at that point now.
>
> I see the consultants and bureaucrats have earned
> their money

I'm surprised to see 'earned.' Do you really think that, or was it faux pas? Oh! I got it. I bet it was sarcasm.


>and already have driven up the cost
> due to "regulations."


Actually, in about 45 seconds of research, you might find that the political correctness you so despise is actually legal correctness. Yeah, those libtard nutcases in CA had something to do with it for sure, something about thinking oil in the Santa Barbara Channel was a bad thing. That's the most unreasonable thing I have ever heard. Oh, right, and those anti-business troublemakers in IL and NY and some of those other Back East places, those notorious anti-business liberals who worked in factories to pay for their extravagant cold water flat lifestyle, had a problem with losing neighborhood after neighborhood to expressway construction. They kept complaining to their representatives in Congress. If they had just shut up and moved into the projects like they were supposed to, we might not have all of these anti-business regulations. What's wrong with a little social engineering if it's good for business? So to be totally politically correct, one of the biggest commie liberal pinko troublemakers of all time, that tree hugger Nixon, signed NEPA into law after Congress passed it. The nerve of some folks!


Those regs don't help
> business in dysfunctional California for the most
> part. Also noted in the report: no bikers will be
> adversely impacted in the Tehachapi Mountains.
> Thank goodness we don't offend them.


Would you sound differently about a rendering works next to your house, or maybe a garbage transfer station? If a business were to buy up a dozen lots in your neighborhood, adjoining your property, because a quarry there was a good business decision, would you still have a pro business anti regulation opinion, or would you be a hypocrite?

>
> Can we now get on with the plan?

Isn't this the land of due process? Nah...it's too politically correct and interferes with business.

TAW

Another quote from the report regarding tunnel 2:

During construction of the bypass at Tunnel 2, construction activities are integral to the
development and function of the rail line. Clearing and grubbing would remove no trees,
but construction of the tunnel bypass would eliminate all of the available access to the
existing viewing positions along the ridge directly above that tunnel. The graded notch in
the ridge would cut off the dirt road that currently extends to points directly over the
tunnel. The cut slopes would also prevent all but the most determined railfans from
reaching the over-tunnel position on foot. The over-tunnel vantage points would be
considered inaccessible following the cutting of the slope.
The project, in effectively ending the existing access to points directly over Tunnel 2,
would be an adverse impact on visual access. The views affected, however, are not
protected or otherwise recognized as valued in Kern County’s planning regulations.
Access to points over Tunnel 2 is comparatively unimportant relative to many other
viewing positions from which the rail line can be viewed and photographed. A search for
web-posted photographs taken from points over Tunnel 2 identified just two, compared to
1,123 taken from other positions. The loss of access to points over Tunnel 2 would not,
therefore, constitute a substantial adverse impact.

bradleymckay Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ProAmtrak Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I'm surprised Rusty ain't mentioned because I
> bet
> > he kicked fans out of that area!
>
> I hear Rusty works for the BNSF in the Flagstaff
> area now...
>
>
> AM

You heard wrong. He's still there sadly, trying to find anyway to make himself feel important in his truck.

SCspotter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> bradleymckay Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ProAmtrak Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > I'm surprised Rusty ain't mentioned because I
> > bet
> > > he kicked fans out of that area!
> >
> > I hear Rusty works for the BNSF in the
> Flagstaff
> > area now...
> >
> >
> > AM
>
> You heard wrong. He's still there sadly, trying to
> find anyway to make himself feel important in his
> truck.


Darn. I thought "ProAmtrak" would enjoy his company there in Flagstaff.


AM

bradleymckay Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ProAmtrak Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I'm surprised Rusty ain't mentioned because I
> bet
> > he kicked fans out of that area!
>
> I hear Rusty works for the BNSF in the Flagstaff
> area now...
>
>
> AM



Bad info Allen. Bellmore is fishing in Oregon while on vacation.

V

SLOCONDR

zchcsse Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> stash Wrote:
> >
> > >>>The existing rail line is expected to reach
> > capacity by 2011. It is anticipated that
> > remaining operational capacity, defined as the
> > available train slots, will soon reach zero.<<<
> >
>
>
> I haven't had a chance to look this over yet, but
> that statement seems false! There's not nearly as
> many trains over Tehachapi now as there were in
> the 2003-2007 years.

Yes, the statement is incorrect today. But I am sure the statement was written a very long time ago (before the start of the EIR process), and evidently that was their forecast when it was written, for better or worse. Which reminds me:

The Law of the Forecast, Part I: The forecast is wrong.

The Law of the Forecast, Part II: The forecast will change.

Best regards,

Rob L.

SLOCONDR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Bad info Allen. Bellmore is fishing in Oregon
> while on vacation.
>
> V
>
> SLOCONDR


Check your mail box Virlon...


Allen

SLOCONDR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bad info Allen. Bellmore is fishing in Oregon
> while on vacation.
>
> V
>
> SLOCONDR

Did his boat capsize yet??


AM