If a bond measure to construct a high-speed rail system were put on a California ballot today, it would be rejected soundly (59 percent), say the results of a Field Poll released in April 2012. Yet, State Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord), California Democrats AND nitwit Republicans are eager to broker high speed rail pork to campaign contributors. Voters approved Prop 1A, based on estimated costs High-Speed Rail in California at $43 billion, with a rosy prediction of a 2020 completion date. But a new cost estimate (November 2011) more than doubled the eventual cost and duration of the construction phase, estimating it would cost $98 billion to build and take until 2033 to complete. But the band plays on as pols scramble to payoff their campaign donors.
Today, with strong bipartisan support, the Senate approved Senate Bill 1117 with a 31-3 vote, calling for the creation of a statewide passenger rail plan that will be used to guide California’s rail transportation policy decisions.
“This bill ensures that the plans of the high speed rail program are integrated into the commuter and conventional passenger rail programs. This is extremely important if the high-speed rail plans for a blended system are to come to fruition,” said Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord). “As the state is embarking upon a major investment program in rail transit, it behooves us to ensure that high speed rail will operate as part of the state’s entire rail system when completed.”
SB 1117 directs the California Transportation Commission (CTC), in cooperation with regional and state agencies, to create a statewide passenger rail plan to address the following issues:
· High speed rail, conventional intercity rail, commuter rail, and urban rail transit.
· Long-term infrastructure needs of the state and how rail can be used to meet them.
· Existing rail and increasing connections to rail, as well as high speed rail.
· A long-term plan for high speed rail.
· Existing corridors and rights of way issues.
· The goals of regional governance, greenhouse gas reduction, and the reduction of traditional air pollutants.
· Reducing congestion.
· Long term transportation energy needs.Under SB 1117, the CTC will be required to hold public meetings and adopt a completed plan by September 2014. The plan would be updated every four years thereafter.
SB 1117 will next move to the Assembly for consideration.
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Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) chairs the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee and represents the Seventh Senate District, which includes most of Contra Costa County.
Bill Gram-Reefer is Editor & Publisher of Halfway To Concord, founded in 2004. Halfway To Concord is the leading online source for community-driven political news, events, and opinion for Contra Costa County and the San Francisco East Bay.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Mark Meuser is brave enough to run against Mark DeSaulnier. Ken Hambrick should use his great writing skills to help him defeat the D-rat in November. Not just in this blog. That’s preaching to the choir.
I met Mark Meuser @ the June Tea Party meeting. He needs all the help he can get.
This is another of DeSaulnier’s nit-wit ideas. The man is full of them (and full of something else too!).
We don’t need any expanded rail service in California and we certainly don’t need High Speed Rail even if we could afford it.
This is anther example of politicians paying no attention to what the public wants.Why does an uncaring politician like DeSaulnier keep getting reelected? Because he is in a Democrat controlled district where voters blindly vote for anything tagged as Democrat without thinking.
By and large we voters are responsible for the sad state of the state since we are dumb enough to keep reelecting the DeSaulniers of this world. My happiest day will be when this inept politician is not in any elected office.
State law requiring fitted hotel sheets emblematic of Guv Brown and Democratic-dominated legislators’ fiddling around as CA circles the drain.
Even if voters approve Brown’s tax proposal in November, it won’t solve California’s fiscal woes. Something’s gotta give.
Here’s a roundup of Sacto Follies:
http://townhall.com/columnists/austinhill/2012/05/27/party_like_its_1978_governor_jerry_brown_and_the_same_ol_failed_ideas/page/full/
If high-speed rail transportation is such a good idea, why havn’t private companies offered to build bullet trains? In fact, there already is a high-speed transportation system connecting Northern and Southern California. The system is called Southwest Airlines.
Richard Colman
Orinda, CA
Say what you will about DeSaulnier: he’s consistent. Not credible or effective, mind you. But wholly consistent.
Throughout his political career he has been oblivious to financial realities. Contra Costa County can attest to that fact.
Though it seems to work for him, since voters keep re-electing him . . . go figure.
Voters who wonder what ails California should go look in a mirror.