if the inter-regional models that CS developed for the 2005 EIR are proprietary, how can anyone actually show why the estimates are flawed? Can you tell me what the assumptions were? Can you tell to what extent they used SCAG’s deeply flawed MAGLEV forecasts to build the Southern California Regional Model?

Does being skeptical of a far,far, far less-than-transparent forecast make one a “hsr denier?”

many of the relevant stakeholders see high speed rail as a possible threat to the metrolink business model. this is why you see studies on high speed commuter service overlays in San Diego county, but not in the rest of southern california.

Senior staff at CHSRA are repeatedly saying that they will not serve a commute market, because their prices will be too high, and they don’t want to offer discounted monthly passes. It’s my understanding that they see their business model as closer to America Airlines than Amtrak. Whether or you or I or anyone else agrees with that decision.

To it… foreclosures are heading up in San Diego despite no increase in filings.

It’s nothing like, say, Italy, where, no matter what the speed limit is in principle, in practice people drive 160-200 km/h on the intercity autostrade.

The part about Amtrak operations is valid, too. Amtrak’s plan to move its back offices elsewhere doesn’t involve Moynihan, but a separate building further to the south. But at any rate, the question isn’t who owns the space, but what’s done with it. I just don’t see TJPA put back offices for any company in the middle of a congested concourse. And if Amtrak were even minimally competent it wouldn’t do so either; it would forfeit the extra rent for better station circulation, which would increase passenger throughput.