Local News Comments

but wait!!!! California has no money!! their asking us to take wage cuts, cutting our schools to nothing? how can we afford to put anything into this, much less to even consider it, do we need it? at least right now. WOW

Yep. When I'm broke the first thing I do is spend a ton of money I don't have on something I don't need

All without a 2/3 public vote of the public...
Nice:(

Great! this is the future. Just look at the picture, the big picture, California will never go broke. California is the ultimate of progress and innovation.
The fact is, we need to get out of the car business to move people and this is a great way to make that happen.
I am glad some people are able to look ahead and dream of bigger things. This is going to be great.
One good thing is watching all the bonehead penny pincher types whine and cry, moan and groan about how we cannot afford anything like this, we cannot afford NOT to build this train.
Gee, how did anyone ever cross the Atlantic? the Mississippi River held back a lot of disbelievers too.
California is a great place to live and it just got a lot better.

The feds set the hook now all they must do is reel in the catch. The senate and govenor took the bait of 3.-?billion from the feds who don't have money and spent 2.-? billion of state funds they dont have to start a project that will take the next 35 years to complete. The benefit to you is: You will pay more taxes on fuel, tires, licenses and anything they can think of. Old Moonbeam got his name for a reason. He will go down in history as a tax and spend liberal. This will drive business out of California. If you are a taxpayer in california and have not thought about leaving, a good time to start would be now. Here is the question: If the federal government doesn't have the money and the state doesn't have the money who do you think will pick up the tab?

Hard work plus merit equals opportunity
NOT social legislation and political chicanery.
Shame on the state legislature.

Not wise or a near bankrupt state to further leverage itself....

The legislature authorized the sale of bonds that the voters approved four years ago. Ms. Olsen, having our representatives complete the tasks that we voted for demonstrate that they do understand our priorities. Just because you do not agree with the will of the voters does not give you any special position to determine our priorities for us. Yes, there is a vocal "We can't" crowd in your district. But, those of us that see that our future lies in next generation transportation systems, alternative energy solutions, and other forward thinking job producing projects out number the "We can't" crowd. You should join us in bringing jobs to our state rather than continue to help export federal tax dollars to other states.

More waste. It will be derailed as soon as the state runs out of money.
Oh I forgot we need higher taxes.

This the craziest thing I have ever heard of. The state leadership really is living in fantasy land.

All you people on here drive me nuts get a life!

@TS, see our Future you say. This is basic math and there is no money. The Feds are in as bad of shape as the State of Calif. Lets wait tell we have a few years where the state buget is in the black. Why would you start this project in the central valley with the lowest rider-ship? Lands cheaper in the central vally compared to the LA basin and SF Bay.
This is a 100 billion dollar plus project easy, just wait and see!!!!

bonehead here, Im thinking of our almost bankrupt state, Brown is the one saying more taxes to survive!! Id rather see better education, or even have education, than a way to get from Medera to Bakersfield

@sonoraman

Nice post, but Exxon just sent a hitman after you.

Fantastic! I support projects that reduce our dependence on automobiles. By doing so, we save money in the long run (think big picture). Bonus....it's a job creator!!

If they want to pay for this and be in the black, cut off welfare, section 8 housing and all the feel good programs like wic and free medical for all those not wanting to work and I think this could be done with no problem. Oh, and make prisoners pay for what they need in there, not free legal aid and free medical. There...it could be paid for with money left over!

Top Shelf these "jobs being brought to our state" are unsustainable. The high speed rail will NEVER pay for itself.
Taking money out of our pockets, filtering it through government bureaucracies and then putting it into a money pit is pure insanity.

So....all you anti auto people?How will you get to the train station?What will you do when you get to BEAUTIFUL Bakersfield?Hmmm?With our Homeland security....no vehicles it will be very easy to shut down all travel.Foresight huh?

This is a very interesting article about the Cal High Spd Rail project. Experienced French help was rejected and the design and building approach were described as:
“It’s like California is trying to design and build a Boeing 747 instead of going out and buying one,” said Dan McNamara, a civil engineer who worked for SNCF’s U.S. affiliate.
http://www.joplinglobe.com/national/x694485136/California-high-speed-rail-officials-rebuffed-proposal-from-French-railway

Cost and ridership projections we were sold on back in 2008 are not even close to being accurate. This rail system will be the gift that keeps on taking.

When people say, "It's a Job CREATOR" I cringe. Govt Jobs. Union Jobs, SERVICE JOBS.
Sheesh.
Do the MATH PEOPLE.
Naw..some people think "Feeling" or "HOPE" "PIE IN THE SKY" Trump Math.

No names...but we know WHO.

This is a great system...in 10 years when this first leg is finished, if i want to go to LA all i have to do is drive for 2 hours to a train station in the middle of nowhere in the valley, pay to park, get on the train, ride it all the way to some sand hole down by bakersfield, rent a car or get a bus ticket to take me the rest of the way to LA. That trip shouldn't take much more than a day. And when i am done there do the whole thing in reverse.....nah....i think i will just drive the 5 hours and save a ton of money.

I just read the article today (Tuesday) in the Modesto Bee on the rejection of the SNCF bid to "help" California with its high speed rail project, and am more convinced than ever that this is a boondoggle of epic proportions. SNCF is the French State Railway, the organization that currently operates 1,100 miles of high speed track in France, running 800 trains a day. They figure they can build a line from near LA to San Francisco at around half the cost of the current proposal, which is from a New York company with little or no experience in high speed rail. As someone in the article says, "this is like building a 747 from scratch, rather than going out and buying one". I wonder who is getting paid off in this increasingly horrible sounding situation?

mcarden

building the 747 from scratch...in "Committee". Who needs experts when you have the wise and benevolent leaders of fruits and nuts.
"Skunkworks? We don't need no stinkin' skunkworks!"

Oh,its the Lib way,just throw everyone else's money at it,dont ask questions,if you do,you must watch FOX news and are Closed Minded