Passenger Trains > FRA pulls funding plug on California HSR

https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/35096/


gmojim

https://railroads.dot.gov/newsroom/us-department-transportation-announces-cancellation-grant-funds-ca-high-speed-rail-project

 

Can I get $50,000 of it to HSR my live steam track?

Epic failure on all levels.  Was never a practical idea, especially from a cost recovery standpoint.

The state didn't live up to the provisions of the contract and, therefore, should return the $$$.

-John

Lead story on Fox New's "Your World" at 4P. How much existing infrastructure could have been upgraded with the money wasted here. Fed's should get their investment back and put it towards the much more needed repairs to crumbling NE tunnels and bridges. 

Just about the right amount of $ to take care of the national emergency. 

Good! Now Gavin and his henchman Xavier Becerra can start yet another lawsuit against the Feds.

TJY

andersonb109 Wrote:
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> Lead story on Fox New's "Your World" at 4P. How
> much existing infrastructure could have been
> upgraded with the money wasted here. Fed's should
> get their investment back and put it towards the
> much more needed repairs to crumbling NE tunnels
> and bridges. 

or federal locks and dams.  or military housing infested with mold. or Navy ships like the Fitzgerald which sailed with significant under staffing, and was involved in a crash

RRBaron Wrote:
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> This will be interesting. It will pit Bluto
> against the up and coming Popeye of the political
> world--and a possible future "contender"! 

Don't forget the excitement here on TO when California passed Prop 1A in 2008. So far, the story has been unpleasant.

Rest of the voters are worried about software (what's washing in their brains), not hardware (real world transportation issues). I see no major changes after next year, regardless of the outcome. I wouldn't waste any time getting excited this early, if I were you.
 

andersonb109 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lead story on Fox New's "Your World" at 4P. How
> much existing infrastructure could have been
> upgraded with the money wasted here. Fed's should
> get their investment back and put it towards the
> much more needed repairs to crumbling NE tunnels
> and bridges.

It should not be about West vs. East, or CA HSR vs. NE infrastructure. Each project is supposed to be funded based on merit, and it took this long for CA HSR to be exposed, that the project doesn't have merit.

The money game was already played when CA collected all the "unwanted funds" from other states (Wisconsin, Ohio, and Florida?) for high speed rail projects. I suspect the money game will continue to be played, and this pattern won't change regardless of who you dislike (CA HSR). 

Media, regardless of who you like (Fox News) will spit out narratives to fulfill your fantasies.

Hopefully, they can use some of the newly-constructed right of way for good purpose..  Perhaps the bridges and other improvements can be finished for use by Amtrak trains.

icancmp193 Wrote:
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> Good! Now Gavin and his henchman Xavier Becerra
> can start yet another lawsuit against the Feds.
>
> TJY

Good, where can I donate? 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/19 23:24 by RRBaron.

jcaestecker Wrote:
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  Was never a practical idea

Not practical??? Even Uzbekistan has HSR! They went from the horse to the iron horse in a generation whereas, we went from: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" to "Not paying taxes means I'm smart" in about the same time. 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/19 23:27 by RRBaron.

The removal of funds isn't a "Trump" issue - it is a California issue.
California did not meet the requirements set forth when the money was awarded.
 

NYC4096 Wrote:
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> Hopefully, they can use some of the
> newly-constructed right of way for good
> purpose..  Perhaps the bridges and other
> improvements can be finished for use by Amtrak
> trains.

That's the plan. The bridges that are being built in Fresno would eliminate the crossing at grade with the UP at CALWA.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/19 16:58 by PHall.

justalurker66 Wrote:
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> The removal of funds isn't a "Trump" issue - it is
> a California issue.
> California did not meet the requirements set forth
> when the money was awarded.
>  

Pardon my ignorance, but don't we have until 2022 to decide that?

portlander Wrote:
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> Pardon my ignorance, but don't we have until 2022 to decide that?

The funds were pulled by the FRA. Please read their letter about the issue. It spells it out in terms any capable reader can understand.
And no, California does not have until 2022 to meet the milestones set forth in the contract.

RRBaron Wrote:
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> Not practical??? Even Uzbekistan has HSR in the works!

Uzbekisktan Railway uses Russian Gauge (1520 mm or "5 foot gauge") and uses Talgo equipment for their HSR segment, which covers the eastern corridor in that country. It's been opeating (since late 2011) and they've already constructed extensions - the line is now ~370 miles.

They completed the initial segment in less than a year, about 200 miles. They made incremental upgrades to host higher speed travel. They ordered their train sets 2 years before the construction began. None of what they did compares to what the CA HSR did. Whether you intend it or not, you're exposing CA HSR even more as a fraud.

So it's not about practicality, at least for California. More TO members have caught on that CA HSR is the symbol of our ineptitude.

justalurker66 Wrote:
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> portlander Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Pardon my ignorance, but don't we have until
> 2022 to decide that?
>
> The funds were pulled by the FRA. Please read
> their letter about the issue. It spells it out in
> terms any capable reader can understand.
> And no, California does not have until 2022 to
> meet the milestones set forth in the contract.

Are you sure? From Railway Age. . .

“Based on CHSRA Board of Directors reports, FRA has determined that CHSRA will not complete the Project by 2022, the end of the Agreement’s period of performance. FRA’s evaluation of the various documents submitted to FRA, or publicly available (e.g., CHSRA’s 4th Quarter 2018 Summary Schedule and CHSRA’s February 2019 Finance and Audit Committee reports) shows CHSRA cannot complete the Project by 2022. When compared against the amount of funds expended, the pending contractual completion dates show CHSRA is failing to make the type of sustained progress necessary to meet the 2022 deadline. 

Maybe this is based on specualtion that enough won't be completed by 2022.

portlander Wrote:
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> Maybe this is based on specualtion that enough
> won't be completed by 2022.

There are no construction packages for the necessary tunnels for two mountain passes: The "easier" Pacheco Pass, and the more difficult Tehachapi Pass. Without them, Gavin Newsom is correct that it's a Merced to Bakersfield railroad. Wasco to Bakersfield segment hasn't cleared all the hurdles, so Madera to Wasco railroad?

California can argue that the SF to LA will be completed in 2022, but reality says it's VERY unlikely. FRA should allow CA to weasel their way into receiving the $929 million, but in exchange, demand additional (loophole-free) penalties if CA HSR can't meet their commitment to have the trains running from SF to LA by 2022. Go ahead, CA HSR, make my day.

Don't forget Prop 1A's lofty promise of 220 mph and 2 hours 40 minutes, and it's the law! :-)