High-speed rail project: still dumb

John Pritchett

From Government Technology:

Does High-Speed Rail Really Meet U.S. Transportation Needs?

A conversation around high-speed rail would not be complete without mentioning the California High-Speed Rail project, which ultimately aims to create a 500-mile route connecting Los Angeles with San Francisco. 

Perhaps most notable about the project — besides its promised 225 mph speeds — is its ballooning price tag and lagging completion date. 

The massive infrastructure project is now estimated to cost $113 billion, with its first 119-mile phase through the California Central Valley to be complete by the end of the decade. 

When voters in California approved the project back in 2008, the price tag was placed at $33 billion, with a completion date by 2020.

Rob's comment:

If you want to get from SF to LA quickly, flying is the way to go.

See also High-speed rail: Dumb in China, dumb in the US.