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The US desperately needs to figure out how to do big infrastructure projects like this. High-speed rail is a critical piece of a greener economy, because it can
by notJim 7y ago
The US desperately needs to figure out how to do big infrastructure projects like this. High-speed rail is a critical piece of a greener economy, because it can truly compete with air travel at medium distances, and blows car travel out of the water. It's really unfortunate that the political incentives seem to be that Republicans are just outright opposed to any kind of government infrastructure spending unless it's a money-making scheme for their donors, and Democrats want to defend any project that sounds good, and damn the costs or whether it's actually successful.
What we need is a willingness to do major, expensive projects (high-speed rail is just not going to cheap in California, or anywhere), and ruthless commitment to making them happen efficiently. When a project like this fails in this way, all it does it play into the hands bad-faith actors who will never support major infrastructure projects. Then, people who are acting in good faith oppose them too, because there aren't enough counter-examples of successful projects.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- elwell 7y agoNot enough slave labor available like in other countries. /sarcasm/
- newsoul2019 7y agoEverything about this is 100% spot on
- jseliger 7y agoAbsolutely true: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/5/24/15681560/gao-report-transit-construction-costs https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/5/24/15681560/g...
- thatoneuser 7y agoI have yet to see a proposal for this type of infrastructure that makes intuitive sense. Not that intuition trumps engineering but the locations for these are usually head scratchingly odd.
- paulddraper 7y agoAgreed, and a lot of other people feel the same. FWIW, Trump proposed $1.5T in funding over a decade [1], but as of yet Congress still hasn't taken that up. 2019 State of the Union: "Both parties should be able to unite for a great rebuilding of America’s crumbling infrastructure. I know that Congress is eager to pass an infrastructure bill, and I am eager to work with you on legislation to deliver new and important infrastructure investment." [1] https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/05/trump-to-call-for-a-great-rebuilding-of-americas-crumbling-infrastructure-in-state-of-the-union.html https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/05/trump-to-call-for-a-great-re...
- pfdietz 7y agoIt's very simple how they should do infrastructure projects like this. They shouldn't.
- tomohawk 7y agoCA desperately needs to figure out how to do big infrastructure projects like this. If it's important to CA, they'll fund it and get it done.
- awinder 7y agoI’m definitely with you in spirit but I really wish we could also work on the “disagree but commit” skill directly. This project was going to have 10B in cost overruns, meanwhile the F-35 project has hundreds of billions sunk into it and the project is in no serious risk. Part of learning how to build infrastructure effectively is going to be to start building infrastructure and gaining experience, so if we are going to do it, let’s give a bit of breathing room to let it work.
- djrogers 7y ago> This project was going to have 10B in cost overruns This project was $10B over projections before we even finished voting to fund it a decade ago, let alone now.
- Salgat 7y agoI think once automated taxis replace car ownership for most people (it will, it's more efficient, cheaper, and more convenient for travel) people will very quickly start to push for high speed rail. The demand is just not there yet for the greater masses (who will either just drive their own car or take a flight if they can afford it).