1. SEARCH YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT HIGH-SPEED RAIL: I’ve searched my feelings and finally figured out exactly how I feel about high-speed rail: the same way I felt about the Westside Subway project between 2005 and 2007 when many, many public officials were talking about it but Metro obviously didn’t have the money to pay for it.
I had little doubt the subway was a good project and there were big obstacles that had to be overcome, such as the Congressional ban on funding. Still, I thought a lot of the talk about the project didn’t amount to much until there was a viable funding plan. That finally happened in 2008 when the Measure R sales tax increase to fund many road and transit projects was proposed, put on the ballot and then approved by 68 percent of Los Angeles County voters.
And that’s the issue I have with high-speed rail. It sounds great, but the funding plan is still very sketchy. And, sadly, the issue of funding from the federal government seems split on party lines. Many Democrats like it but haven’t said much in the way of actual details when it comes to money. And many Republicans dislike it because it would require — gasp! — government funding to get built.
2. MULLING THE EXPO LINE AFTER OUR BIG RIDE ON TUESDAY:
-The line isn’t opening until next year, but I’m curious to hear from readers about how they plan to use the new light rail line and how they see it impacting their commutes. Comment please!
