KFI:
The bullet train to nowhere continues to be a major money suck, and is not at all what is was when voters fell for it.
Analysis from the L.A. Times found that the cost to construct a 13.5-mile tunnel could exhaust the $5.5 billion budget for the entire 54-mile segment from Gilroy to Chowchilla.
The cost of the tunnel could be anywhere from $5.6 billion to $14.4 billion because of the high cost of boring through tricky geology and areas that are seismically active.
Trains would run through the tunnels at top speed via a long and straight route beneath the Diablo mountain range.
William Ibbs, a UC Berkeley civil engineer, told the Times:
“This is not good news for taxpayers of California. Tunnels are expensive.”
Of course the engineers at the California High-Speed Rail Authority aren’t too worried. Chief Engineer Scott Jarvis said:
“We don’t see any problem.”
Part of the socialists’ false economy.
Doesn’t have to make sense.
izlamo delenda est …
Engineer, ““We don’t see any problem.””
As long as the federal, state and taxpayers foot the cost of outrageous over-runs.
$5 billion for 13 miles of unicorn tunnel v. $25 billion for 1,000 miles of border wall? I know which one I’d pick if I had a choice.
It would be cheaper just to use an airplane shuttle service.
I know that ain’t the point but what a waste of money.
Hey, I love trains myself, but…
The reason why liberals love public transportation so much has nothing to do with the environment. They love it because, with public transportation, THEY decide where you go. It’s why they hate cars. In a car, YOU decide where you go. That is, until “self-driving” cars become mandatory by the state.
Diablo mountain should be a red flag– you know the damage that guy can do. 🙁
The “train to nowhere”. What a great metaphor for socialism.
Who cares? Budgets are racist…
“On many levels, mathematics itself operates as Whiteness,”
http://dailycaller.com/2017/10/23/professor-claims-math-algebra-and-geometry-promote-white-privilege/
First time I had seen the word Browndoggle was in this article but that is the perfect description of the train to nowhere.
Dig it and store the politicians in it.
The Ca high speed rail project will be remembered as the largest waste of taxpayer money in history, with the possible exception of the eight year reign of Obama.
Moochoman@: You left out public education in that analysis of the largest waste of tax dollars!
Imagine being on that train in the middle of the tunnel through Diablo mountain when the Big One hits.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKsDQaTkkxo&feature=youtu.be&t=13
Give an illegal beaner a shovel and a pick, let them earn their welfare.
The cost of the BT will be offset by the “economic multiplier effect”. This is the same mechanism used by local and state governments to lure business with grants of tax money. This is especially effective when one or more Senators are given a stake in the venture receiving the taxes kicked back.
It’s amazing how problems don’t exist when money is no object.
In California? Give the contract tot he lowest bidder who will hire illegal aliens to do the work under horrible conditions that will invite labor-law suits and huge settlements against California taxpayers.
Most, if not all, public works projects are a waste of taxpayer money.
Those who benefit the most are Engineering & construction firms providing low cost estimates, who are given the contracts (after sizable campaign contributions) knowing there will be cost over-runs and of course the Unions who are mandated to be used by contract.
Corruption, theft, padding construction materials, machinery leasing, over-time costs and more.
• For rail average cost escalation is 45%
• For fixed links (bridges and tunnels) average cost escalation is 34%
• For roads average cost escalation is 20%
• For all project types average cost escalation is 28%
• Cost escalation exists across 20 nations and five continents; it appears to be a global phenomenon
• Cost escalation has become acceptable and become the norm in state and federal run projects.
The all taxpayers are footing the bill by increased taxes or user fees to fund corrupt public funded projects that benefit the minority of users.
This Train: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rph2pDMlVAM
Living in Fresno I see this Browndoggle up close and personal, ain’t I lucky!I will never be in that big of a hurry to get to Bakersfield that existing Amtrak regular service isn’t just fine.
You must vote for the tunnel to see what’s in it.
SAME OLD TACTIC
Low-ball estimates
Start construction
Go over budget
Make the claim, “We can’t stop now, we already sunk all this money into it!”
Government gets you to “yes” by giving you only 1/3 of the real costs. (sounds like Obamacare, and Boston’s “Big Dig” project)
Thirteen-and-a-half miles? out of the sun? Out of the rain? Even if somebody pulls the plug on the train con, that thar tunnel will already be useful. In California.
@cato (at 11:03 am): You didn’t like Johnny Cash?
😉
This is much more than inflation. In the early 1900’s an expensive tunnel would cost a million dollars. That’s $25 million in todays dollars. How’d we get from $25 million to 5 billion plus?
Just recruit a bunch of Illegal Aliens to push the train and when they are in place yell “ICE” and watch the dust fly and speed records be set!
Remember those episodes on TWD of them in a tunnel?
Not a phucking chance in a 13 mile tunnel for me!!