Californians have voted for a bond issue for high speed rail between the Bay Area and San Diego – years ago.
So why hasn’t it been done? Environmentalists.
The main route should run SF – SJ – Central Valley – LA – SD with an easy branch from Oakland over to hook up to the main line in the Central Valley. However, the San Jose to Central Valley portion would need to cut through Henry Coe State Park, a old ranch handled over to the state to avoid inheritence taxes. Actually, it’s rather ho-hum but to hear the environmentalist tell it, it is Yosemite and Yellowstone rolled into one.
Already, one can already drive from the Bay Area to Orange County, door to door, in less time than flying.
Yes, long distance rail is for tourists. Last couple of times I did Chicago to California, half the passengers in first class were European and having a great time.
