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For years I have called the High Speed Rail as a boondoggle for special interests and unions. Now Democrats realize this as well.
"Is it a high-speed rail ride to the future or a Bay Bridge boondoggle times 10? That's what lawmakers are wondering as more and more questions arise about the plan to build a multibillion-dollar bullet train between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
"I'm all for high-speed rail, but I want it to be high-speed rail done right," says state Sen. Joe Simitian."
The supporters lied about the costs. This is what we now "know", "For example, no sooner had voters approved the bond package than the initial $33.6 billion price estimate jumped to $42.6 billion because the authority had failed to account for inflation. And that cost could climb even higher if the rail goes underground through the Peninsula, as many communities are now requesting.
Then there is the estimated ticket price for a trip from L.A. to San Francisco, which has jumped to $105 one way - making the line much less competitive with the price of an airline ticket."
In fact the actually cost of building this, principal and interest, is going to be north of $200 billion. The $42.6 billion is without interest--with interest it is already $85.2 billion.
It is time to cut our losses and admit the truth: Those promoting this boondoggle lied.
More...
"Is it a high-speed rail ride to the future or a Bay Bridge boondoggle times 10? That's what lawmakers are wondering as more and more questions arise about the plan to build a multibillion-dollar bullet train between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
"I'm all for high-speed rail, but I want it to be high-speed rail done right," says state Sen. Joe Simitian."
The supporters lied about the costs. This is what we now "know", "For example, no sooner had voters approved the bond package than the initial $33.6 billion price estimate jumped to $42.6 billion because the authority had failed to account for inflation. And that cost could climb even higher if the rail goes underground through the Peninsula, as many communities are now requesting.
Then there is the estimated ticket price for a trip from L.A. to San Francisco, which has jumped to $105 one way - making the line much less competitive with the price of an airline ticket."
In fact the actually cost of building this, principal and interest, is going to be north of $200 billion. The $42.6 billion is without interest--with interest it is already $85.2 billion.
It is time to cut our losses and admit the truth: Those promoting this boondoggle lied.
More...