Posted by Old Ben, a resident of the Shoreline West neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2013 at 1:14 pm

This HSR scam is way past its expiration date. If it's such a great idea, let them find private investors. Every HSR system on Earth is losing money. We're kicking the elderly and our educational system under the bus already. All that this HSR scam is going to do is make a few people rich at public expense. It'll never be a viable transportation alternative.

Posted by Otto Maddox, a resident of the Monta Loma neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2013 at 2:22 pm

What the hell is a "courtesy vote"? Are these people just making things up now?

But he didn't have the vote so they will hold it until they do have the votes. Can't say that's any surprise.. happens all the time.

I wonder if one single mile of track will ever be built? I'd bet against it.. they can't even keep a full board.

Posted by Susan, a resident of the Castro City neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2013 at 3:20 pm

NOOOOOOOOO HSR! What a waste of money that is needed RIGHT NOW. Yeah, like I will drive to the Central Valley to go to LA. Hah! Neither will anyone else...and Bakersfield to LA does not cost a bundle to drive to, which an HSR ticket will, and then you can't go anywhere once you get there. Arghhh! Most of us have no idea how to use public transit in LA. So what's the point? There is none that makes any sense.

Posted by kman, a resident of the Monta Loma neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2013 at 3:41 pm

Susan, they don't care that our schools are in need, or that our roads are in decay (due to all the new people entering this area), or that the pension fund is growing exponentially, or that our police is suffering do to all the layoffs. What matters most is that Jerry Brown can take a fast train home after work.

Anything going the speed of the HSR should be up in the air and not on the ground.

Posted by Steve, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2013 at 3:50 pm

And yet California voters keep voting for every dumb idea that comes down the like. It's for the kids

Posted by AC, a resident of another community, on Mar 6, 2013 at 4:06 pm
AC is a member (registered user) of Mountain View Online

I wonder if there's a way to recall the HSR initiative.

When it was first proposed, it seemed like a nice idea. But it's turning out to be badly managed, full of non-transparent process, and too expensive. The economy and the area have gone through changes since then, and the priorities are different now.

I wonder if there's a way to get rid of it.

Posted by starguy, a resident of the Blossom Valley neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2013 at 6:53 pm

California prides itself on being on the "cutting edge".

Trains (and what is HSR, but a train?) are so 19th century.

Just saying.

Posted by Rodger, a resident of the Sylvan Park neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2013 at 10:12 pm

I am very much anti High Speed Rail but it seems tapping the funds that are going to be wasted for something that is useful like Cal Train is a good idea. High Speed Rail will not get any funding beyond what they now have which is only enough to build a stranded segment in the central valley, so let's make that segment shorter and give some of the funds to Cal Train, it seems we only have to wait a month.

Posted by Ted Crocker, a resident of another community, on Mar 7, 2013 at 8:35 am

I love that Schenk decides to point out the elephant in the room now - namely that the blended approach doesn't meet prop 1A requirements - because it was that promise of money to the legislators at "the ends" that got them the winning vote to go ahead with the sale of the bond money (SB1029). Had she done this before the legislators voted, when it passed by only one vote, the project surely would be dead.

This isn't the first time someone on the HSRA board has gotten suddenly honest after it mattered. I hope the judge in Mike Brady's Prop 1a case against the HSRA is taking note that Schenk admits the project doesn't meet the bond requirements.

Remember when Schenk admitted the earlier business plan was more of a marketing piece than a real business plan...after the fact? Web Link What a joke!