Might I remind folks of the process or provision known as eminent domain. A community may rail against the suggestion of a tunnel being bored under it. Okay, I get that. But, as long as land stability isn’t compromised and ground movement isn’t a factor, this should be no big deal. That can be tested for. What’s in the best public interest is what needs to be considered here.
Moreover, all things considered, one needs to ask what route would be the least disruptive. When highways get built, these seem to go in unopposed. I don’t understand why rail is held to a higher standard. At least, that’s how I see it.
Comes the expense. On a 218-mile-long high-speed rail line planned for Las Vegas, NV to Rancho Cucamonga, CA., construction is to purportedly begin this year, all at a projected cost of $12 billion. A major pass - Cajon - will need to be passed through to reach the latter community from the Victor Valley. This presupposes there will be tunneling involved. In rerouting the LOSSAN Corridor around San Clemente (coupled with other line relocation work - I don’t know how many miles are involved in all), if that’s what the prescribed fix involves on the other hand, if I’ve got this straight, the $20 billion figure seems excessive.
Regardless, whatever amount it ends up costing, BNSF should at the very least have no qualms about paying its fair share. It does, after all, use this line.
The $20 billion figure comes from a report issued by the California Senate. That would be the amount needed for upgrading the ENTIRE Surf Line, not just the locations in Delmar and San Clemente that need to be moved before they fall into the ocean. Those two relocations would cost an estimated $8 billion.
Over the years I drove US 101, I always wondered how long this line could survive in its current location. It is truly one of the most beautiful lines in the country.
Might I remind folks of the process or provision known as eminent domain. A community may rail against the suggestion of a tunnel being bored under it. Okay, I get that. But, as long as land stability isn’t compromised and ground movement isn’t a factor, this should be no big deal. That can be tested for. What’s in the best public interest is what needs to be considered here.
Moreover, all things considered, one needs to ask what route would be the least disruptive. When highways get built, these seem to go in unopposed. I don’t understand why rail is held to a higher standard. At least, that’s how I see it.
Comes the expense. On a 218-mile-long high-speed rail line planned for Las Vegas, NV to Rancho Cucamonga, CA., construction is to purportedly begin this year, all at a projected cost of $12 billion. A major pass - Cajon - will need to be passed through to reach the latter community from the Victor Valley. This presupposes there will be tunneling involved. In rerouting the LOSSAN Corridor around San Clemente (coupled with other line relocation work - I don’t know how many miles are involved in all), if that’s what the prescribed fix involves on the other hand, if I’ve got this straight, the $20 billion figure seems excessive.
Regardless, whatever amount it ends up costing, BNSF should at the very least have no qualms about paying its fair share. It does, after all, use this line.
The $20 billion figure comes from a report issued by the California Senate. That would be the amount needed for upgrading the ENTIRE Surf Line, not just the locations in Delmar and San Clemente that need to be moved before they fall into the ocean. Those two relocations would cost an estimated $8 billion.
Over the years I drove US 101, I always wondered how long this line could survive in its current location. It is truly one of the most beautiful lines in the country.