The places where the politicians work are not the places where the commuters work. And the politicians want to see “their” money being spent. They want to be able to look out the window of their high-rise office building and feel the same thrill that a little boy feels when he watches his model train going around in circles. They want to have a tangible, physical reminder that they are In Charge, that they Made Their Mark, that they Left A Lasting Impression.

Then the construction costs will likely approach double what is being estimated. See Big Fat Lies at the following web site:

http://baycrossings.com/dispnews.asp?id=399

No high speed rail in the world is profitable except for in Japan. Why we believe that California high speed rail would be profitable is merely wishful thinking.

And let me irritate a whole lot of folks by suggesting that the alignment should be the Altamont Pass, where there is an existing right-of-way and the Palmdale Route avoids a whole lot of problems.

I support CA High Speed Rail but we have to be realistic about the warts, problems and incredible costs that will go with this program.