In the absence of a long-term federal funding source for HSR funds, we have to take what we can get, when we can get it. In that vein, the CHSRA today announced that they are applying for another $2.3 billion in federal HSR grants. From the press release sent to me via email:
Today’s announcement of [...]

Last week, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote to DOT Secretary Ray LaHood regarding a proposed “demonstration” high speed rail run from Los Angeles to San Diego on existing infrastructure. It would have an implementation date of November of this year.
Schwarzenneger-Lahood Demo Train

First, it’s important to emphasize what the letter does not suggest.  This would not be [...]

This is very good news, not just for Caltrain, not just for HSR, but for passenger rail as a whole in this country. From Mike Rosenberg’s article:
Caltrain officials have convinced federal safety authorities to allow quick European-style electric trains to zip from San Francisco to San Jose, a national first that paves the way for [...]

by Rafael
Note from Robert: This is one in a series of posts from Rafael thinking about different ways that we could route California HSR. It should be noted that the Merced-Fresno Alternatives Analysis has some very clear options on how to deal with much of this segment, although north of Merced is less settled at [...]