CA High-Speed Rail Initiative - "If We Don't Pass This, We Will Never Have High-Speed Trains in the US"
by Jesse Fox, Tel Aviv, Israel 
on 05.19.08
California State Assemblywoman and Majority Whip Fiona Ma, a leading advocate for high-speed rail in California, was on hand last month at the Ecocity World Summit to talk about the $10 billion bond initiative for high-speed rail in California this November. The vote on the bond has twice been postponed, in 2004 and 2006, and could be postponed for a third time this year.
Ma, however, believes that, after 10 years of work on the initiative, this year may finally be the "perfect storm" that gets the plan approved, due to rising gas prices, road congestion, endless lines at the airports and the latest airline crisis. Japan, Ma noted, has had high-speed rail for 40 years, and France for 25. Countries all over the world are now developing high-speed rail, and California and the US are "light years behind" the rest of the world.
High-speed rail is the most environmentally-sound option for meeting California's future transport needs, and must be part of the discussion about global warming.
California is the world's 12th largest single source of carbon emissions, and emissions from transportation make up around 38% of total emissions. While Governator Schwarzenegger has committed the state to drastic reductions in greenhouse emissions over the next several decades, car-based planning has led to serious increases in automobile miles traveled in the state.
According to Ma, the proposed high-speed rail line, running from San Diego to Sacramento, with travel times of two and a half hours between LA and San Francisco, would be the most effective single investment that the state could make to lower greenhouse emissions, improve quality of life and stimulate the economy.
For more on high-speed rail in the US and elsewhere:
The TH Interview: Andy Kunz, New Urbanist
High-Speed Passenger Rail Comes to the Americas
Spain's New High-Speed Rail Service Challenges the Airlines
Europe's High-Speed Train Networks Continue to Expand
Follow @TreeHugger on Twitter & get our headlines with @TH_rss!
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- Mister Miyagi's Guide to Going Green: 5 Questions to Always Ask to Think Green and Be Green
- Surf Green with Eco-Friendly Surf Gear
- Green Glossary: Meltwater
- Focus Earth: June 13, 2009: Everglades Nevermore and Snake Invaders
- Focus on Focus Earth: Snake Invaders
- The Week's Best DIY Projects, June 26-July 2: A $10 Wedding Dress and Lego Security
I'm from New Jersey and it's easy to say this state desperately needs this form of transportation. New Jersey Transit does offer a light rail, but its distance, at least where it's located near me, is minimal, only going through a few towns and into NYC. It does its part, yes, but it needs to be expanded.
A local newspaper, The Bergen Record, said that most of the tri-state area and surrounding counties received F grades for air quality. Something like High-Speed Rail would be increadibly useful in decreasing emissions and improving our air quality.
It would be great if that could be a reality. If this project actually takes off, it might just stir things up in Los Angeles and make the city leaders decide to develop a real public transportation system. I understand that you can go most places that you want in LA using public transportation but my experience is that you are looking at several miles of walking in addition to the busses and subway.
I used to live in San Francisco and can see that they won't have any trouble connecting with a high speed train. The public transportation there is excellent.
I really hope that this makes it on the ballot. It would be such a sadness if this project get's sidelined. California needs a high speed rail system that meets the needs of the metro populations in NorCal and SoCal.
This single project WOULD reinvigorate so much that is stagnant with California. Just look at this state... it is long and narrow, and just BEGS for a transportation system that can get people from one hub to another. Plus, I could visit my parents more often.
Maybe, if we're lucky California will pass this and set the example that will spread to other areas of our country. We have far too little passenger rail for a developed nation.
Where are they going to get the money? Rumor has it that they will be running a $20 billion annual deficit for the foreseeable. They always come up with these great ideas after they squander all the money on graft.
I hope so, because it's 9 hours with Amtrak right now.
Crossing my fingers.
I REALLY hope this initiative passes and we can be on our way to getting high-speed rail in California! I have traveled on high speed trains in Switzerland, France, and Spain and I can't believe what an unbelievable experience it is. I think many people in CA can't see the long-term benefits of rail connecting the northern and southern parts of the state. We are so far behind the rest of the world in transportation...we need to catch up!
TGV - yes!
But the French can keep their nukes!
I think the key here is for these trains to allow riders to transport their cars like the Eurostars do in Europe. Without this, you can bet that people will cotninue to drive across the state in order to get around once they reach their destinations.
Does anyone know what 45,000,000,000 divided by 36,000,000 is?