DerailHSR News
November 7th, 2008
The California High Speed Rail Authority today released the missing business plan for the project promoted and partially funded by Proposition 1A on the Nov 4th, 2008 election ballot.
The Authority was in violation of State law since the plan was mandated by law to be released on or before Sept 1st, so that voters could use this material in deciding to vote for or against Prop 1A.
The election has now been held, and we the voters of California will finally get a chance to see this business plan.
November 7th, 2008
An article in the Contra Costa Times has this to say:
Delay rail bond sales
MediaNews editorial
Article Launched: 11/07/2008 12:01:00 AM PST
CALIFORNIA VOTERS took an incredible leap of faith in approving Proposition 1A, a $9.95 billion bond authorization to start building a high-speed rail system.
Let’s hope the state is not too quick to actually start selling the general obligation bonds. At the very least, legislators should wait until there is actually a business plan for the 700-mile railroad, which is expected to cost around $43 billion.
Perhaps the ...
November 3rd, 2008
The High Speed Rail Authority has been promoting this project with with numbers that make no sense. In reality most of their projection cannot be met. They are being used to fool voters into voting for this boondoggle.
Look at our comparison chart then Vote No on Prop 1A.
Vote No On Prop 1A
November 2nd, 2008
A new report just issued on Oct 31,2008 has this to say in its summary:
In the face of high energy prices and concerns
about global warming, environmentalists and
planners offer high-speed rail as an environmentally
friendly alternative to driving and air travel.
California, Florida, theMidwest, and other parts
of the country are actively considering specific
high-speed rail plans.
Close scrutiny of these plans reveals that they
do not live up to the hype. As attractive as 110- to
220-mile-per-hour trains might sound, even the
most optimistic ...
November 1st, 2008
Prop 1A has dropped to less than a 50% approval needed for passage.
It is still to early to say it will be defeated, but the trend is certainly good.
The Riverside Press Enterprise article titled:
Field Poll: Support falling for Prop. 1A on high-speed rail, Prop. 4 on parental notification
has this graph:
They say:
Supporters of the ...
November 1st, 2008
This audio is an outstanding in concisely telling why voters should not approve Prop 1A.
Vranich is the author of Supertrains, an expert in rail and other transportation issues. He is co-author of the Due Diligence report on Prop 1A.
He says in his 40 years of dealing with rail and other issues, this is the worst project he has ever seen.
Listen to the audio.
Vote No On Prop 1A.
October 31st, 2008
This Editorial from the Daily News in Red Bluff reads:
Here are our recommendations on state propositions being put before voters.
Prop. 1A - No - Would authorize issuing nearly $10 billion in general obligation bonds to initiate the building of a high-speed rail link between the Bay Area, Central Valley and Southern California.
High-speed rail will be an important component in relieving congestion, reducing emissions and promoting commerce in the state, but it should be undertaken when our financial outlook is able to sustain such a project. Just as we would all ...
October 30th, 2008
This article from Joseph Vranich is really informative.
He writes:
By Joseph Vranich
Oct 30, 2008
There was a time when my naiveté in supporting government spending programs caused me to think that public officials would do their best in running this or that program. And for nearly 40 years I’ve supported high-speed rail systems in writing, in speeches here and abroad and in testimony before Congress.
But last week I testified against California’s high-speed rail plan before a state Senate committee, causing my surprised ...
October 30th, 2008
From ABC news we read
SACRAMENTO, CA - Gov. Schwarzenegger said California is in a “state of emergency” Wednesday and warned that even deeper budget cuts are ahead.
For the second day in a row, Schwarzenegger met with interest groups behind closed doors at the State Capitol, urging them to brace for expected cuts.
Tuesday, the governor warned education leaders the state would have to cut school funding $2 billion to $4 billion this fiscal year. Wednesday, he warned law enforcement groups they would also be taking a hit.
“Since ...
October 28th, 2008
An associated press article titled:
Schwarzenegger: Budget special session is needed
says the following:
The revenue shortfall in California’s five-week-old budget has grown beyond the $3 billion projected by state officials earlier this month, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Monday.
“I think it’s very important that right after the election that we go and have the special session and have the Legislature deal with this crisis as quickly as possible because it’s much bigger than we knew just a month ...
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