The HSRA has dropped the idea of a true HSR project, and is planning a hybrid of low-speed rail on existing rights of way and a possible high speed stretch in the Central Valley where there would be no one to ride it. Plan A needs $80 billion. The HSRA has only managed to identify 1/10 of that. It is clear that this group cannot build anything resembling HSR in my lifetime, and the hearing turned me from a gung-ho supporter to a solid "no" vote. I think it may have been one of the clueless analysts who suggested CalTrans might be a better organization to mount this project, and I think they may be right.
I bailed at 9 pm, to give me plenty of time to walk to CalTrain and catch the 9:38. Which apparently is now the 9:48. So I didn't get to hear any of the public's comments.
I'm listening to it online now, 11:15. The Senator will be getting a letter from me thanking him for keeping the meeting civil, and staying until everyone who wanted to talk had a chance to do so.
I wonder what it would cost to come up with an electrified interstate standard, and build cards which can ride on them.
