Is California's High Speed Rail the Transcontinental Railroad of its Time?

Journalist Kathleen Sharp, whose great-grandfather worked on the transcontinental railroad, draws comparisons between that epic achievement and the construction of California's high speed rail in this New York Times op-ed.

2 minute read

February 10, 2015, 7:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


FLV California train

California High Speed Rail Authority / Wikimedia Commons

Depending on one's perspective, California's mega-project is either a symbol of the best of what government can do for its citizens, or a boondoggle of unprecedented scale. Since opponents have made it clear where they stand, particularly in the courts, Sharp offers a fresh and historical perspective from the pro side of the argument.

"In 1869, after years of delays and cost overruns, the transcontinental railroad was finally completed," writes Sharp. "It was the last missing link connecting the American West to the Eastern Seaboard, and a cross-country trip that had once taken six months was cut to around a week...and is considered to be one of the greatest technological feats of the 19th century."

Now, almost 150 years later, the high-speed bullet train aims to hit a similar goal. Last month, officials broke ground on the system that will eventually link San Diego to San Francisco, and tie the California coast on the west (where most travelers live) to the Central Valley in the east (where the tracks lie). 

Sharp then acknowledges the projects critics and challenges, from residents who view it a boondoggle to Congress, which has passed legislation, sponsored by a Californian (from the Central Valley, no less, which stands the most to gain from construction jobs) to deny the mega-project any additional federal funds. 

But bigger than the train’s cost and potential payoff is what it symbolizes. Nowhere else in the country can you find such bold, stubborn faith in the idea that government can actually do something for its citizens. It’s as if, after the long recession and a punishing drought, hope is stirring again in the Golden State.

Sharp ends by writing "what the transcontinental railroad was to its century, the bullet train can be to ours." Well, for Californians, at least.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015 in The New York Times - Opinion

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of new neifhborhood under construction with enpty lots in foreground.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won

A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

July 2 - CALmatters

Low-rise Pearl Sreet mall in Boulfer, Colorado.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide

Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.

July 2 - Boulder Reporting Lab

Two-story buildings with porches in walkable Florida neighborhood.

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code

The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.

July 2 - CNU Public Square