Whereas other northern-hemispheric-located countries have embarked on high-speed-train journeys beginning with Japan in 1964, the United States is only now starting to get on board. Here in America, construction of the country’s first true high-speed passenger rail system officially broke ground in Fresno, California on Jan. 6, 2015 with physical construction actually going on a handful of miles to the north in Madera County that same year on Jun. 16th.
And with that commencement what had begun was a whole new era in domestic rail transportation, made possible through passage of the “Safe, Reliable, High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century” (otherwise referred to as California Proposition 1A) in Nov. 2008.
Also known as the California high-speed rail project and as far as major infrastructure efforts go, this one was indeed ambitious: 800 miles of rails bridging together the north, central and south state, tapping major population centers up and down California, among them Baketsfield, Burbank, Fresno, Los Angeles, Merced, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Stockton, just under half of the proposed or planned 24 communities total to be served by the 220 mile-per-hour California fast train. The extensions to Sacramento and San Diego are to come later in Phase 2 of the project, adding an additional 280 miles to Phase 1’s 520 miles connecting Los Angeles/Anaheim to San Francisco through the state’s expansive interior central and southern San Joaquin Valley regions.
Those opposed, meanwhile, balked at items of the perceived high cost, and, over time, things like construction mismanagement and delays, cost overruns, and, to some, the seemingly snail-like pace of parcel and property acquisition.
Golden State voters approved $9.95 billion in state bond funds with grant money to the tune of $2.55 billion coming courtesy of the federal government. Moreover, through what is known as the California Cap-and-Trade provision, funding is generated through emissions auction proceeds as well as via other sources.
Though the current estimated $80 billion to cover the cost of building Phase 1 in total is not yet fully in hand or committed, there is, however, according to reports, enough capital available to complete Construction Packages 1 through 5, also referred to as Initial Operating Segment, consisting of 171 miles of double-track, grade-separated, high-speed rail line that will serve the central and south San Joaquin Valley-based cities of Bakersfield, Fresno, Madera and Merced with a regionally-centered station offering service to and from the nearby towns of Hanford, Tulare, Visalia and others in the area. Total estimated cost for this? Twenty-billion-dollars plus.
All of which is more than sufficient for some to label the project as a boondoggle or worse, such as branding California high-speed rail as a “train to nowhere.”
But, in reality, nothing could be farther from the truth.
First of all, prior to California’s effort, high-speed rail has never been attempted anywhere else in the United States. Like the saying goes, it has to start somewhere. California, with its 40 million state residents, is that place. That makes the most populated state in the country, a very suitable location for something on this scale to go in.
Secondly, the cost of building airport runways, terminals and highways to handle the expected passenger loads this bullet-train system is capable of handling, would far exceed the current approximately $80 billion price.
Next, high-speed train service is ideal over territory between 100 and 600 miles in length and is very competitive with aviation covering the same distances.
Furthermore, the statewide bullet-train project is a jobs generator. In the San Joaquin Valley alone, more than 5,000 laborers are engaged in the building effort. Meanwhile, construction work is either in progress or had been completed on over 30 locations in five counties. And there will be the creation of a multitude of permanent jobs once the construction effort has ended.
By virtue of the construction activities and once operations begin, ancillary, supporting jobs will be created, too. All of which will help grow economies – local, regional and state alike. The industries of tourism and hospitality will also benefit.
Then there are what’s known as “connecting” or “feeder” services. These will be required for the purpose of meeting high-speed train patrons’ local and/or regional travel needs. These can be accomplished in any number of ways including but certainly not limited to the following: transit bus, taxi, ride-hailing services, streetcar, light rail, subway, commuter rail, and even people-mover systems, such as are in place and operational at airports, for example.
Add to all of this that high-speed rail is safe. In fact, it’s one of the safest modes, if not the safest mode, anywhere. Safety protocols will include a technology known as Positive Train Control, which is designed to prevent the possibility of train-to-train collisions, overspeed conditions and accidental incursions of trains into work zones. Moreover, there will be zero locations where train tracks and roadways directly intersect. This will be facilitated using overpasses and underpasses carrying cross traffic over and under railroad infrastructure, respectively.
And, in taking the environment into consideration, the trains will produce no emissions of their own. Power is to be derived from 100 percent renewable energy sources. Another of the train’s esteemed qualities is its potential to remove many vehicles from area roadways as well as to reduce duplicative flights. Trains have the ability to move upwards of 50,000 passengers per direction even in a conservative daily operational scheme. Air quality in many of the jurisdictions the train is due to operate in is bad. All the more reason, emissions-free, fast passenger train service is an excellent fit in cities to be served by California high-speed rail.
Going above and beyond, the system is being built using equipment, material and processes that reduce harm to the environment. Is there a transportation-infrastructure-
A “train to nowhere” California high-speed rail is definitely not. What America’s first bonafide very fast passenger train service is on the other hand, is a platform for improved air quality and superior travel. Truly what this train is all about!
– Alan Kandel
All material copyright 2021.