Marsha McLean wants to singlehandedly stop California High Speed Rail

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

She can’t be this dippy, can she?

Santa Clarita Mayor Marsha McLean wants to fix the state’s existing trains and railways with money already allocated for high-speed rail.

This week, she asked Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, whom she should talk to in Washington to get $5 billion allocated to the California High Speed Rail Authority diverted to repair existing train tracks.

“There’s talk going around about the $5 billion that have been allocated to the high-speed rail authority to build some tracks in the Central Valley — not to put a train on them, but just simply to build the tracks — and they’re on a fast line to do that.”

“Since that money is already sitting in their account and it’s already allocated, what we’re trying to do is bring attention to the federal government about taking that money … and using it to upgrade existing Metrolink and rail throughout California.”

SIGNAL

This has to be out of context or bad reporting. No one could be that dense. Because the way it’s presented, our Mayor seems to think she could just call up some guy in Washington and have him or her undo portions of an Act of Congress, California’s voter-approved Proposition 1A, and a whole bunch of other transportation policies just because she thinks it’s “ridiculous stuff.”

It’s like she thinks that her efforts to derail HSR to this point have failed just because she hasn’t talked to the right guy. And she wants McKeon to give her the 411 on The Man in Washington who will just kill California’s High Speed Rail for her.

I’ll give McLean the benefit of the doubt (and save myself the facepalm) and just say it’s awkwardly worded in the story, but if you want the real scoop on HSR, Marsha McLean or the City of Santa Clarita aren’t the best sources. Warren Olney covered the topic a few weeks ago and gave equal time to both sides.

Comments (9)

Jim FarleyAugust 11, 2011 at 8:35 pm

High speed rail IS too big a gamble at this time. We just cannot afford it. It’s almost like the proponents are saying you can’t get from LA to SF without it. Between air travel and car it is just not that hard to get there today. Travel to different locations changes over years. Why put a fixed rail system between two locations when devising a cheaper and more flexible air travel system will make more economic sense. In these times the whole rail thing should be scrapped and the 5 billion put to improving air and road transportation.

David KAugust 13, 2011 at 12:13 pm

We cannot afford NOT to build high speed rail. You cannot stop population growth (despite the wishes of many residents of this valley), and the transportation needs of these future Californians will not be met by our current infrastructure. High Speed Rail is the cheap option for California’s future transportation needs. Doing nothing isn’t an option! From the CA HSR Authority Draft EIS “Statewide, over the next two decades, California’s HST system would alleviate the need to spend more than $100 billion to build 3,000 miles of new freeway, 5 airport runways, and 90 departure gates to meet the transportation needs of a growing population. In fact, the San Joaquin Valley is projected to grow at a rate higher than any other region in California. Four counties – Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Kern – are projected to grow by 72% by year 2035.” This doesn’t even take into account the volatile price of oil, which all of the HSR opponents never seem to take into account. Airplanes don’t run on electricity, so as oil gets more expensive the cost of travel goes up along with it. The calls to cancel the CA High Speed Rail project and put that money back into 20th century transportation technology are short sighted and foolish.

Jim FarleyAugust 11, 2011 at 8:57 pm

One more thing. Drive from Ventura to Santa Barbara on the 101. Check out the horrible condition of this premier stretch of California highway. If the lack of being able to maintain this is not an indication to avoid pouring billions into a high speed rail I don’t know what is.

Fred ButlerAugust 12, 2011 at 8:46 am

What is with this bizarre fascination with 19th century technology that has fulfilled its usefulness? I thought you all were suppose to be “progressive.”

jimAugust 12, 2011 at 9:03 am

She makes a lot of sense. First polititian I have heard of with out a train fixation.

Capt. GeneAugust 12, 2011 at 8:25 pm

She may be going about it wrong, but at least she’s on the right side of the issue. I wish her luck.

ToddAugust 13, 2011 at 11:06 am

Jeff, after hearing how she conducted herself, and the inane, banal and just plain ignorant questions she asked of the Authority at their meeting some time back, I’m not at all surprised.

KevitivityAugust 13, 2011 at 11:38 pm

Given how HUGE of a money pit high speed rail is likely to be (not to mention underused), it seems to be that it would be particularly brain dead to “fast track” this project. The plan seems even more ridiculous when you consider, even for a second or two, the financial situation California is currently in.

JeffAugust 13, 2011 at 11:57 pm

If we’re judging things on how huge a money pit things are likely to be, I’d like an accounting for all the HUGE money we pour into JPL. What…I’m supposed to be impressed by neat photos from Mars?

Jim FarleyAugust 11, 2011 at 8:35 pm
High speed rail IS too big a gamble at this time. We just cannot afford it. It’s almost like the proponents are saying you can’t get from LA to SF without it. Between air travel and car it is just not that hard to get there today. Travel to different locations changes over years. Why put a fixed rail system between two locations when devising a cheaper and more flexible air travel system will make more economic sense. In these times the whole rail thing should be scrapped and the 5 billion put to improving air and road transportation.
David KAugust 13, 2011 at 12:13 pm
We cannot afford NOT to build high speed rail. You cannot stop population growth (despite the wishes of many residents of this valley), and the transportation needs of these future Californians will not be met by our current infrastructure. High Speed Rail is the cheap option for California’s future transportation needs. Doing nothing isn’t an option! From the CA HSR Authority Draft EIS “Statewide, over the next two decades, California’s HST system would alleviate the need to spend more than $100 billion to build 3,000 miles of new freeway, 5 airport runways, and 90 departure gates to meet the transportation needs of a growing population. In fact, the San Joaquin Valley is projected to grow at a rate higher than any other region in California. Four counties – Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Kern – are projected to grow by 72% by year 2035.” This doesn’t even take into account the volatile price of oil, which all of the HSR opponents never seem to take into account. Airplanes don’t run on electricity, so as oil gets more expensive the cost of travel goes up along with it. The calls to cancel the CA High Speed Rail project and put that money back into 20th century transportation technology are short sighted and foolish.
Jim FarleyAugust 11, 2011 at 8:57 pm
One more thing. Drive from Ventura to Santa Barbara on the 101. Check out the horrible condition of this premier stretch of California highway. If the lack of being able to maintain this is not an indication to avoid pouring billions into a high speed rail I don’t know what is.
Fred ButlerAugust 12, 2011 at 8:46 am
What is with this bizarre fascination with 19th century technology that has fulfilled its usefulness? I thought you all were suppose to be “progressive.”
jimAugust 12, 2011 at 9:03 am
She makes a lot of sense. First polititian I have heard of with out a train fixation.
Capt. GeneAugust 12, 2011 at 8:25 pm
She may be going about it wrong, but at least she’s on the right side of the issue. I wish her luck.
ToddAugust 13, 2011 at 11:06 am
Jeff, after hearing how she conducted herself, and the inane, banal and just plain ignorant questions she asked of the Authority at their meeting some time back, I’m not at all surprised.
KevitivityAugust 13, 2011 at 11:38 pm
Given how HUGE of a money pit high speed rail is likely to be (not to mention underused), it seems to be that it would be particularly brain dead to “fast track” this project. The plan seems even more ridiculous when you consider, even for a second or two, the financial situation California is currently in.
JeffAugust 13, 2011 at 11:57 pm
If we’re judging things on how huge a money pit things are likely to be, I’d like an accounting for all the HUGE money we pour into JPL. What…I’m supposed to be impressed by neat photos from Mars?