Comments on: State peddles idea that bullet train contractors are investors https://calwatchdog.com/2014/07/23/state-peddles-idea-that-bullet-train-contractors-are-investors/ Wed, 25 Mar 2015 05:52:21 +0000 hourly 1 By: Robert S. Allen https://calwatchdog.com/2014/07/23/state-peddles-idea-that-bullet-train-contractors-are-investors/#comment-89026 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 02:22:50 +0000 http://calwatchdog.com/?p=66094#comment-89026 They never mention one problem: “Blended Rail”. Prop 1-A (2008) was for “Safe, Reliable” HSR. Between San Jose and San Francisco they would use Caltrain tracks, which has many grade crossings and station platforms, even increasing the train speed from 79 mph to about 120 mph. Such HSR would be NEITHER SAFE NOR RELIABLE. (Wikipedia Bourbonnais Train Wreck, at a grade crossing also on 79 mph track, with two locomotives and 11 of 14 cars derailed, 11 passengers killed, and 128 wounded.) Vulnerable to accidents, sabotage, and even terrorist.—

HSR needs secure (fenced, grade separated) track. The first phase of HSR to the Bay Area must stop at San Jose, with nearly seamless transfers there to Caltrain, Capitol Corridor, Amtrak, VTA rail, and BART.—

In a second phase HSR should follow UP/Amtrak from San Jose via Santa Clara, Mulford, and Oakland to Sacramento. Include a transfer station at the BART overhead in Oakland, with a six-minute run to downtown San Francisco’s Embarcadero station every four minutes or oftener.—

San Francisco’s grossly mis-named Transbay Transit Center is quite a walk from the nearest BART/Muni rail transit stations.

]]> By: Gary Patton https://calwatchdog.com/2014/07/23/state-peddles-idea-that-bullet-train-contractors-are-investors/#comment-89012 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 00:28:28 +0000 http://calwatchdog.com/?p=66094#comment-89012 Incisive and “on target” comment by Chris Reed. What I liked best: “Dumb, de dumb dumb.”

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