Publictransit.us

We would not blame readers for thinking, even for a moment, that the above is a belated April Fool's Day gag. It is not. Reason Foundation researchers Tim Cavanaugh and Scott Shackleford did indeed critique the 2030 ridership forecast for the new LRT Expo Line in Los Angeles against ridership observed on Days 3 and 4 of revenue operation.

We would not blame readers (. . . those of who you who remain . . .) for shaking their heads and mumbling, "What kind of 'ultra-maroons' would do such a thing?"

Article continues at http://www.publictransit.us/ptlibrary/Reason_Fools.htm.

By Michael D. Setty

Most readers of this blog (all three of you!) probably know by now that the California State Senate approved the high speed rail (HSR) plan touted by Governor Jerry Brown by a one vote margin. Barring the results of pending environmental lawsuits against the California HSR project, this vote portends possible construction of a new HSR line from "nowhere to nowhere" in California's San Joaquin Valley.

Earlier today (Monday, July 9, 2012), the Los Angeles Times published a major story outlining how the French National Railroads (SNCF) had made a $38 billion proposal to the State of California to build and operate a HSR network, funded almost exclusively by private investors. Quoting the Los Angeles Times article. See http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rail-advice-20120709,0,4539140.story: