In the summer of 2008, the high speed rail bond proposal was altered in order to address criticisms some project supporters had about possible sprawl in the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. AB 3034, the bill that became Prop 1A and was approved by voters that fall, specifically ruled out any station location [...]

As promised the California High Speed Rail Authority has published the 2008 Business Plan. Remember, this would have been ready in time for the election had Republicans like Roy Ashburn not blocked passage of the state budget for three months. The plan itself is primarily an update of construction costs and ridership estimates. The overall [...]

On August 26th AB 3034, after a weeks-long delay, was finally signed by Arnold Schwarzenegger. That bill directed the California High Speed Rail Authority to create a new business plan…by September 1. Giving the Authority merely five days to come up with the new plan. Why the delay? The bill was passed out of the [...]

Daniel Weintraub at the Sacramento Bee is hosting a “Sunday Conversation” on Prop 1A. The conversation consists of four articles – an HSR-skeptical article from Weintraub himself, an article from HSR denier Joseph Vranich and two from Californians who currently ride the passenger trains and who would welcome high speed rail. It’s an interesting discussion, [...]