I agree with calls to halt construction of a socialist high speed rail, but then? The conclusion of the saga ought to be one that will carry a benefit on to future generations, not leave California scared with Stonehenge-California, or Lenin’s Tomb-California Monument to Socialist Transit.
Instead, a private sector solution, which is what we voted for on Prop. 1A, could build profitable transport. Put the CAHSRA in Ch. 9 Bankruptcy, do a liquidating plan of reorganization, trade the Class Ones (UP & BNSF) the partially completed infrastructure for their restoration of intermodal service from all the ag-shipping counties, e.g., Salinas Valley where we used to have a TOFC ramp, and have the Trustee seek to clawback fraudulent transfers.
He gets an extra two years on the Statute of Limitations on those complaints thanks to the Bankruptcy Code. Liquidate everything else.
As was the case with the land grant railroads, it may take decades, but in the end you’ll have a profitable business. The Class Ones gain extra added freight revenue moving all the additional TOFC & COFC traffic sufficient to offset their losses moving passengers.
We’d have less traffic congestion on I-5, Hwy. 99, etc., and fewer big rig accidents, injuries and deaths. Shippers get 40% on average lower freight rates with intermodal service compared with OTR trucking, and at competitive three-day coast-to-coast service as UPS “ground” gets from our Class Ones today.
And we also get cleaner air because of the coefficient of friction steel-on-steel compared with rubber over concrete or asphalt.
Joe Thompson
Past-Chair, Legislation Committee, Transportation Lawyers Assn.
