State bullet train angles for share of $2.4 billion in federal funds

California bullet-train supporters began lining up Wednesday to snatch a sizable share of $2.4-billion in federal high-speed rail funding Florida Gov. Rick Scott has decided to reject.

More than $600 million was reallocated to California by the Obama administration after new Republican governors in Ohio and Wisconsin turned down high-speed rail money after the November elections.

The administration, which has made high-speed rail development a signature initiative, signaled Wednesday it is again looking to redistribute the Florida funds, said Jeffrey Barker, deputy executive director of the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

More than a decade of planning has put California “in a great position to be so competitive for federal dollars,” he said.

The proposed Los Angeles-to-San Francisco route, with trains traveling up to 220 mph, is the only truly high-speed train project in the country in advanced stages of planning, he said.

"Florida’s loss is California’s gain,” the California Labor Federation, a leading backer of the project, said in a statement.

Construction on a $5.5.-billion, 120-mile section of Central Valley track is expected to begin next year. That non-operational starter segment could be extended northwest toward San Jose or south toward Palmdale, if a significant infusion of new money is received.

However, more than $10 billion in future federal allocations are needed to finish the line between the Bay Area and Southern California will be harder to come by now that Republicans control the House of Representatives.

Key GOP leaders have criticized the administration’s proposal to spend $50 billion on high-speed rail nationwide over the next six years.

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-- Rich Connell

Comments

[EnemyOfTheState]

The geography and population centers of California do not fit the requirements for a high speed train, and the budget, when the projected ridership fails certainly dos not either.

My children already have enough of your debit to pay in their lifetimes.

[Rich]

This money will go a long way toward solidifying the starter line. I hope that the line continues south toward Palmdale with this money (including possible CA matching funds) because there are still issues to be worked out with the Bay Area route.

Secondly, this will get more private and foreign-government contracts lined up behind CAHSR. Japan and China are currently the leaders in the funding scenario for CAHSR. If China is going to be building our modern railroads, so be it. Sad day for Florida, but the people of California will benefit from this project. Gas prices aren't going to stay cheap forever.

[Bill Hilser]

Since all the $2.4 Billion Dollars is being borrowed from China, why not ask for it all? That way, California and FedGovCo can run it all the way down to Tijuana to help our 'visitors' from the South. -- Yer amigo, Ferrari Bubba

[Russ H]

Thanks Florida! More greenbacks for the West coast!

[Rob]

it will never finanically carry itself.

complete waste of money

[Dermot McGrath]

I wish all the nattering nabobs of negativism in the U.S. Congress would spend some time traveling on the fantastic bullet trains in Europe. Maybe after they experience this incredible thrill they would take their heads out of the sand and get behind promoting high-speed rail travel in the U.S.

[BOB2]

I support a strong investment in high speed intercity rail serving our major and medium sized urban centers in California with frequent, fast, reliable, service fully integrated with our current successful intercity passenger rail system, and our successful regional rail systems. Such a system would benefit Californians greatly. Unfortunately, that is not the system the irresponsible political hacks running the CHSRA are giving us.

As a supporter of High Speed Rail, I say reform of CHSRA is needed, and soon, or this rotting fish will "belly up", and all of the monies will have been wasted with nothing to show for it. That's right, no trains, no jobs, nothing but a stinking polical scandal.

Reform this project, throw the bums off of grossly irresponsible CHSRA Board, and restructure this project based on sound transportation planning, real cost benefit, value engineering, and strict oversight of the expenditure of public funds. Then maybe we will get a High Speed Rail system which works, and which we need.

[Rob Anderson]

Governor Brown should do what Governor Scott did: reject this money. California HSR is a boondoggle. After the construction jobs are over, the state will have to subsidize the operation expenses of a system that will never carry enough people to make any money.

People need to read this report on CHSR to understand what's at stake:
http://cc-hsr.org/assets/pdf/CHSR-Financial_Risks-101210-D.pdf