Political and Economics of the California Bullet Train Project

University

HUM

Professor

24 January 2012

Political and Economics of the California Bullet Train

With California being the largest state in our union and holding the biggest population of people in the country, it would be only wise to build fast and reliable means of public transportation between it rather large cities. With the political forces in place in our country, the policymakers control the outcome of most of the public transportation in America. The California bullet train is one of the projects that have gained much attention by the political powers of our great country. In an article in the Los Angeles Times, U.S stands by California bullet train project despite critics, columnist Ralph Vartabedian wrote, “The Obama Administration vowed at a House committee meeting in December 2011 in Washington not to back down from its support of California’s bullet train project despite attacks from the alleged it is tainted by political corruption” (Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times, 2011). Joseph Szabo the chief of the Feral Railroad Administration was also quoted stating that his administration was not going to flinch on the Presidents support on the project. With this rail system in place means that California can and will help with the traffic congestion for travelers, and eliminate some of the pollution problems due to the number of auto and buses that are on the road. To further help with the economic side of this rail system, Szabo’s administration has set aside $3.3 billion in the construction efforts in 2012 to help start this project in the Central Valley of California. In 2008 California voters approved the funding the bullet train with little notice and knowledge of the cost or the requirements for a train to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco in two hours and 30 minus. Now with actual proposed cost of building the rail system now being placed at $98.5 billion, the state’s auditor issued financial warning on state of this rather large project. In an article in the Los Angeles Times, State auditor issues financial warning on the California bullet train, author Dan Weikel writes, “this project is increasingly risky, because of the uncertainty about where the money will from to finish even the first phase of the project” (Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times, 2011). To help ease concern from the state auditor the California High-Speed Rail Authority has made some steps to move forward with the rail system. The CA high-speed rail authority has secured $12.5 billion for the first 800 miles from Los Angeles to San Francisco according to their report. Today’s current events may have pretty much slowed down or possible stopped the California bullet train from becoming a reality. On January 12 the political and management challenges facing California's bullet train project is in the window of being trashed. The chief executive of the $98.5-billion effort has announced he is leaving his position within just months before breaking ground on this construction. Roelof van Ark, 60, an engineering with many years of international high-speed rail experience announced his he was leaving. With Ark leaving his position with countless years of experience at this crucial juncture leaves to wonder if this project has in any foundation. In a the Los Angeles Times article Chief executive of high-speed rail project steps down, written by Ralph Vartabedian, “ Van Ark was frustrated by difficulties with the project, according to former high speed rail officials and state legislators. Rachel Wall, the rail agency's press secretary, said Van Ark was not asked to leave and in fact may remain as a consultant. It became apparent last year that the political and funding battles over keeping the project alive were far from over. A new, hostile Republican majority in the House of Representatives cast doubt on future federal funding” (Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times, 2011). Also Vartabedian stated that they didn’t have Van Ark focus on engineering but had him spending time on politics of the project and not the job he was hired for. Vartabedian also states that Van Ark was called in front of the Legislature more than 15 times last year alone. Sen. Alan Lowenthal a Democrat from Long Beach stated, "I think he took over a totally dysfunctional organization," The distrust by the Legislature was already there. He was always in a defensive posture, defending against this attack or that attack. I think it just wore him out. His skills did not match the situation that evolved” (Vartabedian, Los Angels Times, 2011). The success or failure of the project all depends on getting a total of $105 billion in funding for this project to be completed, stated by the California state auditor. The problem is, where if the funding going to come from. Gov. Jerry Brown is still pushing on to start the Central Valley construction at the end of 2012, not know where the extra money will come from he is forging ahead. Gov. Brown argues, “That the bullet train represents a bold vision of progress for the state and will create jobs, accommodate future growth and help the environment” (Weikel, 2012). Backers note that voters approved the project and billions in state funding in 2008. Critics, however, note that recent polls show that voters way of thinking in the state has shifted away from support for the project. So the question is what the real state of the California bullet train? I surely hope our Commander and Chief sit down with Gov Jerry Brown and his advisor of California to come with a plan to get this project off the grown. Or will the cost become way too much handle for the public, government, and private sectors.

REFERENCE

Ralph Vartabedia, Los Angeles Times, U.S. STANDS BY CALIFORNIA BULLET TRAIN PROJECT DESPITE CRITICS, retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/16/local/la-me-bullet-hearing-20111216

Dan Weikel, Los Angeles Times, STATE AUDITOR ISSUES FINANCIAL WARNING ON CALIFORNIA BULLET TRAIN, retrieved from http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me- bullet-train-20120125,0,2642100.story

Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times, BULLET TRAIN COST ESTIMATES RISE TO $98.5 BILLION, retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/01/local/la-me-high-speed-rail- 20111101

Ralph Vatabedian, Los Angeles Times, BULLET TRAIN’S TRAVEL-TIME MANDATE ADDS TO BALLOONING OF COSTS, retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/15/local/la-me-bullet-speed-20111215