SOCIAL: [Party_Car] DETAILS: 'Deep Slate November 2008: VOTE TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4TH

[Eric Arons]

I do feel like I need to comment on (at least, and at this point, no more
than) one of these recommendations.
High Speed Rail.  I've had a lot of conversations down here with a co-worker
and vice-mayor of Menlo Park, and we're not so sure high speed rail makes
much sense in its current incarnation (beyond the sexiness of it).  It will
be ridiculously expensive, and ultimately it does exactly what Deep says,
gives people a convenient way to get from here to LA and back.  It requires
major rework of the infrastructure (grade separation all the way up and down
the peninsula), and integration of current use of the rail (Caltrain and
freight) with this new use.  Do we need this long distance transit solution
for lots of money?  Or would that money be much better spent for regional
transit planning that would allow us to get around the Bay Area more
easily?  Would a better plan be to stop the train in SJ and then let it
connect to better local service, saving billions?  A large part of the cost
will be in revamping the current rail line.  Yes, I know that money is not
immediately transferable from project to project, but there is a massive
budget shortfall right now.  And there are some real concerns about the
particular plan for this potential boondoggle.  Anyway, I'm not necessarily
opposed to it, and we were actually hoping to have a debate on it here at
SRI, but it's worth looking into more carefully.  Maybe this isn't the right
plan.

A few relevant links (some from people actually supporting the prop, but not
the current plan):
http://service.govdelivery.com/docs/CAMENLO/CAMENLO_1/CAMENLO_1_20080925_en.pdf
http://www.transdef.org/HSR/HSR.html
http://www.bayrailalliance.org/statement_on_high_speed_rail_and_lawsuit_against_hsra

And a debate on the issue on the radio Wednesday:

http://www.kalw.org/listen.html

KALW Radio, 91.7 FM, on Wednesday, Oct. 22, debating Quentin Kopp, the
Chair of the CA High-Speed Rail
Authority.  Please call in with questions and comments during the
second half of the show.
The number is 415-841-4134.



State Initiatives:
> *1A: YES  - HIGH SPEED RAIL*
> This much delayed bond measure will start the funding for California to
> build a new High Speed Rail system connecting SF to LA but eventually
> Sacramento to SF to LA to San Diego.  If I didn't love it because it was a
> great way to get people out of cars, or love it because it would represent a
> hugh Green House Gas emissions win (it will reduce instate plane flights
> DRAMATICALLY as well as reduce car trips), or love it because it represents
> a big investment in CAs decaying infrastructure & will dramatically improve
> service on our very own CalTrain, I'd vote for it because it will get me to
> LA in 2 & a 1/2 hours door to door (4 by air? 8 by car?) & I'll probably be
> able to bring my bike :-) YES YES YES
>
>
>
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