Plans for a statewide system have been in the works for almost a decade, but doubts remain about whether taxpayers will ever want to foot the bill.
"Even people who hate high-speed rail believe it would transform California, much like steam-powered railroads did in the 1860s and freeways did a century later."
However, a ballot measure to provide $10 billion dollars to jump start construction on the estimated $37 billion system has been delayed twice, due to the state's already high borrowing habits and other perceived priorities.
"Worries about taking on more debt or stifling more popular bond measures would doubtless strengthen the hand of high-speed rail opponents, who have an arsenal of other reasons why voters should reject the enterprise. Opponents point to what they call pie-in-the-sky predictions about how popular, how cheap and how beneficial a California bullet train would turn out to be."
FULL STORY: MORE DEBT? NOT SO FAST: High-speed rail on slow track to reality
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions