High Cost Rail - Part 58 Jerry Hill gets it; Quentin Kopp doesn't

I apologize for two High Cost Rail posts in a row, but our local Assemblyman Jerry Hill has a piece in the SF Comicle that shows he is seeing the tidal change on the subject for what it is.  One key piece that has been ever clearer over time is

We are approaching a critical crossroad. We have spent $250 million to date but construction of phase one could require us to spend more than $100 billion on debt service over 30 years. If we start construction without private funding or assurances of further federal financial support, the California taxpayers will be responsible for nearly the entire cost of the project.

This is a very positive development regardless of whether you are a homeowner on the Peninsula, a business owner near the Caltrain right of way, a California taxpayer or any combination of the three.

For the ultimate in hubris and hypocrisy, have a look at former what Quentin Kopp, formerly of the High Cost Rail Authority, had to say about the Central Subway in SF.  My favorite part is the "breathtaking and undeniable facts about a politically motivated project, which will sap" blah, blah, blah.  Everything Q-ball says about the Central Subway is true of High Cost Rail in California...just add three or four zeros.  Really pretty unbelievable!

 

Comments

[jennifer]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/12/chinas-high-speed-rail-network_n_925260.html

[jennifer]

Peninsula Cities have their day in Court- Decision Pending
by Kathy Hamilton
http://www.examiner.com/transportation-policy-in-san-francisco/peninsula-cities-have-their-day-court-decision-pending

What was supposed to be an hour hearing, a closing argument of sorts, turned into four hours as the court further considered Atherton I and Atherton II lawsuits. The cases were brought by Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Planning and Conservation League (PCL), California Rail Foundation, The Transportation Solutions Defense and Education Fund (TRANSDEF), Community Coalition on High Speed Rail (CC-HSR) and private individuals arguing - - some for the second time - - the High Speed Rail Authority did not in fact do a thorough job in their study of the Central Valley to the Bay Area’s Revised Program Environmental Impact Report. (EIR)....