California High Speed Rail

[Imperfect Ending]

Ya.. that last one... lol..

[San Marino Guy]

Originally Posted by rst22

I am NOT impressed.

The SOM design was far superior!

I agree. I especially loved the glass roof which filled the entire terminal with natural sunlight. I'd much rather get off the train in the SOM designed terminal and not the one they're going to build. By the way, SF broke ground in December on the temporary Transbay Terminal. Here's a video on what the new Transbay Terminal will look like when completed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szAFv...e=channel_page

[krudmonk]

Originally Posted by AlexTheMartian

i can't tell if that's just an eff'n amazing render, or is it just an amazing design?

It's both. You'll never see that kind of sunlight on the building.

[AlexTheMartian]

thought so, if the sunlight did that in real life i would move there lol

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

The California High speed rail could get up to 2 billion from the stimulus package to grade separate and start on the line! Grade separation could start in 6 - 18 months and heavy construction for the line could start in 2011.

[San Marino Guy]

GO CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL!!! According to the chairman of the CAHSR Board, grade-seperation of the line could start withing the next couple of months. Even though it's not officially breaking ground, I'd consider that a MAJOR milestone.

[xXFallenXx]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

The California High speed rail could get up to 2 billion from the stimulus package to grade separate and start on the line! Grade separation could start in 6 - 18 months and heavy construction for the line could start in 2011.

badass.

[klamedia]

Unbooleevable!

[San Marino Guy]

An example of grade-seperations scheduled to start construction within the next few months.

This is what Burbank will look like:



I also found this map which I thought was kind of cool:

[Kenny]

I voted for the darn thing,.....built it soon!!

[AlexTheMartian]

I like the transit map, however having 4 brownish lines run together is a tiny bit confusing

[San Marino Guy]

Federal Stimulus Package May Help Fund California High-Speed Rail

California High-Speed Rail Authority/Courtesy
California's High-Speed Rail project could receive some funding from the federal economic stimulus package.

By Julie Strack
Daily Cal Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 28, 2009

California's High-Speed Rail project could find a new funding source for preliminary construction-a portion of the $825 billion economic stimulus package proposed by Congress.

The U.S. Senate proposed appropriating $2 billion from the package for high-speed rail projects around the country, said Quentin Kopp, chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

Democrats in the House of Representatives unveiled the package on Jan. 15. It is a combination of spending and tax measures meant to increase economic activity to avoid a deeper downturn.

The package includes huge increases in federal spending on education and health care, temporary increases in unemployment benefits and funding for various public works projects, including $10 billion to support mass transit projects.

To qualify for the federal funds, projects must be "shovel ready"-ready to begin construction and able to create jobs quickly for the unemployed.

The bulk of the California High-Speed Rail project's construction would begin in 2011, according to officials-too late to qualify for federal funds.

"(President Barack) Obama wants to spend the money by mid-2010; 2011 would be a disappointment," said Bruce Cain, a UC Berkeley professor of political science.

However, some preliminary construction on the project could begin as early as fall 2009.

Officials plan to start building some of the rail's grade separations, which separate the rail from traffic, in six to 18 months, Kopp said.

The grade separations, which are expected to cost about $2 billion, have the best chance of being at least partially funded by the package, he said.

In November, California voters approved $10 billion in state bonds to fund the rail, which is planned to span from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

With a $55 ticket, riders could embark on a 188-minute journey to Southern California, relieving highway and air traffic congestion.

But the state funds cannot be spent on construction until matching federal, local and private funding is secured.

Rail officials eventually hope to receive federal funding from three other bills, including the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007, which was passed by Congress in October and sets aside $1.5 billion for high-speed rail.

"We don't have all our eggs in the stimulus bill, which has the caveat of spending the money swiftly," Kopp said.

The rail, which could have an Oakland station but will not stop in Berkeley, is expected to cost about $40 billion and be completed by 2030.

Some advocates of high-speed rail expansion were disappointed that the package would set aside only $10 billion to fund mass transit programs, said UC Berkeley economics professor Raj Chetty. The package would allocate $30 billion for improving the country's roads and infrastructure.

Congress is basing their decisions partially on political expediency. It is easier to expand existing road improvement programs than to start entirely new projects, Chetty said.

"In the long run, more funding should be put toward mass transit, but right now we can't be too idealistic," he said.

According to Chetty, members of Congress must balance their desire to pump money quickly into the economy with the need to fix long-term transportation problems.

"If they try to accomplish both at once, they could end up accomplishing neither," Chetty said.

[Facial]

Idealistic my ass.

[San Marino Guy]

Grade-separations to begin this fall. I really love the momentum this project seems to be moving at so far!

[Westsidelife]

^ Another great thing about CAHSR is that Metrolink will receive the same grade-separations.

[San Marino Guy]

Too bad Metrolink won't be getting electrification for the rest of their lines. That'd be really cool!

[PotatoGuy]

Will LA get a cool new station too???!!

They should at the very least renovate Union station, a lot of that station is very ugly... the platforms are gross

[San Marino Guy]

Originally Posted by PotatoGuy

Will LA get a cool new station too???!!

They should at the very least renovate Union station, a lot of that station is very ugly... the platforms are gross

They're going to build an entirely new set of platforms on top of the existing Metrolink and Amtrak Platforms. I guess you can say Union Station will be like Grand Central in New york where there are two levels of platforms.

By the way, if you think the platforms are gross now, you should have seen them 10 years ago. Skaters, homeless people, and everyone you can name were not only always on the platform, bu in the station. It also used to smell like a dirty bathroom which was disgusting!

[San Marino Guy]

Merced to lobby for high-speed rail jobs
Committee will advocate plans that bring business, development.
By SCOTT JASON
sjason@mercedsun-star.com

Merced renewed its support for California's high-speed rail system Monday with a plan to join a financially backed committee that will lobby on the city's behalf as the project moves forward.

Rail system planners have selected Merced to have a downtown station. Castle Commerce Center may be a maintenance hub for the entire system, creating hundreds of jobs in the county.

Both designations have the potential to draw businesses and other development, which is why the city and county are willing to fight for them.

"The future is upon us," Councilman Jim Sanders said. "Trains and rails are how we're going to get around. Cars will take a lesser role."

Voters in November approved Proposition 1A, nearly a $10 billion bond measure to pay for the project's first phase, which would begin in the Valley.

The 700-mile passenger rail system would connect Los Angeles to the Bay Area, likely through the Pacheco Pass.

The Greater Merced High-Speed Rail Committee, a group of citizens, formed to support the project. Now that it's looking more likely that 220-mph trains will zip across the state, it's asked city and county governments to increase their support by giving cash and having elected leaders join its ranks.

The Board of Supervisors pledged $40,000 to do a study on whether it'd be possible to create a maintenance hub at Castle Commerce Center.

Studies by the California High-Speed Rail Authority show it'd like to see a station in Merced's downtown, though a specific area has not been named. The authority estimates that about 4,000 people could be passing through Merced's station daily.

The city is poised to donate between $10,000 and $15,000 to the committee. The council will vote on the amount during its next meeting.

The committee will have three main tasks: finding a location for the station, lobbying for the maintenance hub and exploring a connection between the BNSF tracks and the Union Pacific tracks so that bullet trains needing maintenance can get to Castle.

The state authority has shown preference for aligning the high-speed rail system with Union Pacific's tracks, though the company has said publicly it doesn't want trains running along its tracks.

Assistant City Manager Bill Cahill reminded council members that, like UC Merced, the high-speed rail system will take years to develop. But as planning gains steam, the city wants to make sure it's left with a station.

Reporter Scott Jason

can be reached at (209) 385-2453

or sjason@mercedsun-star.com.

[klamedia]

Originally Posted by San Marino Guy

They're going to build an entirely new set of platforms on top of the existing Metrolink and Amtrak Platforms. I guess you can say Union Station will be like Grand Central in New york where there are two levels of platforms.

By the way, if you think the platforms are gross now, you should have seen them 10 years ago. Skaters, homeless people, and everyone you can name were not only always on the platform, bu in the station. It also used to smell like a dirty bathroom which was disgusting!

Unbelievable. Was this even after the renovation of the station i.e. the Metro Tower and the rear "southwest plaza" part?