California’s Boo-boo Choo-Choo

by Jack

Jan. 2018   “The estimated cost of building 119 miles of bullet train track in the Central Valley has jumped to $10.6 billion, an increase of $2.8 billion from the current budget and up from about $6 billion originally.“  And this is but one of the many miscalculations that killed the bullet train.

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There are few things in government that have attracted more heated criticism than California’s bullet train and now it’s almost  dead, like the rusting hulk on the left.

From the start the critics (and there were many on both sides of the isle) said the cost v. benefit was simply way out of whack.  Even the State’s own statistical analysis concluded the train would never pencil out:  Too few riders, ticket prices too high and it would be competing against established air travel that is a fraction of the cost and moves passengers in far less time than the train.

But, California has never been known for making smart moves and the bullet train was no exception.   Over the last decade the bullet train has become a symbol of this state’s growing dysfunction.  Hundreds of millilons of taxpayer dollars have been squandered on this fools errand and the money was  given over to  any number of special interests groups without even the first rail being laid.  I cringe when I think of all the good uses that money could have gone too, but it’s too late now.

Newly elected Gov. Gavin Newsome is scrambling to figure out how to keep the 900 million plus dollars that the feds advanced us to help build this boondoggle.   Trump is demanding the money back now that the project has been cancelled.  But, Gov. Newsome hates Trump and he loves money, so naturally he doesn’t want to pony up.   The Gov. is looking for some creative way to keep the money, like building a short stretch of track just out of spite.  And that would be the exclamation point to end the bullet train saga.  Not a very good reason to abuse the taxpayers money is it?

 

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14 Responses to California’s Boo-boo Choo-Choo

  1. J. Soden says:

    Newscum is not gonna win this one. TheDonald has already cancelled one Fed grant – https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/02/19/gavin-newsom-trump-takes-back-nearly-1-billion-from-california-after-high-speed-rail-canceled/
    and can keep grant $$ outta Newscum’s hands until the Train to Nowhere $$ is returned to the Fed Treasury.
    Taxifornia’s politicians and unions dug this hole and deserve to be buried in it.

  2. Libby says:

    It is not dead … it is demoted. Apparently, it is proving way too expensive to acquire right-of-way (from Registered Republicans? do you suppose?) We’re going to finish the bit that’s started, and then see what develops … politically.

    I’m surprised how willing you are to see those Asians out-pace us in this regard. Where’s your competitively pious patriotism, fer heaven’s sake !

  3. Peggy says:

    Ranchers and farmers can use it to haul their crops and livestock to market faster. At least we can benefit from the fresher food.

    Those of us old enough will remember Moonbeam’s first boondoggle with our highways and freeways. He’ll now be known for his ‘Train to Nowhere’ along with his ‘Freeways to Nowhere.’

    Will people ever learn to stop electing idiots just because they have a D after the name? Probably not in California.

    https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/01/08/san-joses-infamous-monument-to-nowhere-freeway-interchange-finally-named-after-joe-colla/

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