CA high speed rail takes a small step forward with agency approval of route

Articles — By forcechange on July 15, 2008 5:00 am

In spite of some recent setbacks, California’s proposed high speed rail system took a step forward last week when the California High Speed Rail Authority’s board approved the train’s route. The $10 billion bond measure to fund the beginning of the $40 billion project is slated to be on the November ballot in California, and was also recently endorsed by the governor. The route approved by the board will go as far north as San Francisco, and as far south as Anaheim. Major Central California stops would include San Jose, Merced, Fresno and Bakersfield. The main southern stop would be Los Angeles’ Union Station. It is contemplated that the line could be extended to Sacramento in the north and San Diego in the south at some point in the future. 

The more we read about this proposed project, the more we are in favor of it. Our one criticism has been that it doesn’t address the problems of intra-city travel. However, it is our belief that should this major, inter-city rail system actually be built, that it will likely spur the development of other public railways at local levels. By building the high speed rail, the state will be taking a step towards shifting our culture away from cars and towards trains. These shifts in cultural norms can have contagious effects. Furthermore, and even more importantly, there will be practical reasons to further build-up local rail infrastructure, since they will provide the means to link up to the high speed rail system (like is the case in Europe).  

There are always skeptics and opponents whenever a major project involving public funds is proposed, but for something as essential as the ability to travel throughout the state and to address greenhouse gas emissions from cars and planes, when there is an intelligently proposed plan that is able to radically address both issues, inaction is inexcusable.