California Requests Stimulus Funding For Bullet Train

marquinhocb writes "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger requested $4.7 billion in federal stimulus money Friday to help build an 800-mile bullet train system from San Diego to San Francisco. 'We're traveling on our trains at the same speed as 100 years ago,' the governor said. 'That is inexcusable. America must catch up.' Planners said the train would be able to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco in two hours and 40 minutes, traveling at speeds of more than 200 miles per hour. About time! There comes a point when 'let's add another lane' is no longer a viable option!"

Comments

Too expensive

[tsotha]

There comes a point when 'let's add another lane' is no longer a viable option!

No, actually, if you're willing to spend 45 billion dollars you can add lanes pretty much indefinitely. Why the hell does it cost this much to build a few hundred miles of track? The Chinese were able to build maglev track for about the same cost per mile.

Maybe we should have the Chinese build it. What the hell, they did okay building railroads the first time around.

Re:It will never happen

[DerekLyons]

I suspect that assessment is incorrect, on the grounds that a lot of environmentalists tend to be in *favor* of such trains, on the theory that they reduce motor vehicle traffic.

They're in favor of the *theory* of such trains, it remains to be seen if they will accept the inevitable environmental damage which comes with the actual existence/construction of the trackage and infrastructure.