Choo-choosing the Right Track for Future Transport

California needs an electric train set for Christmas. A big train set that’s 700 miles long with locomotives flying at 200 mph.

The state needs it tomorrow to carry Christmas Day travelers. Really, it was needed 10 years ago and will be an absolute must 10 years from now.

So maybe we’ll get one in 20 years--if we’re good Californians and do the right things.

Do the right thing like loosen up with our money. Maybe even save some money by the state renegotiating a few long-term energy contracts--and by politicians not pigging out so much on pork barrel budgeting.

But mainly our elected leaders must do the right thing by ratcheting up the courage to be bold and visionary. Like Govs. Pat Brown and Earl Warren when they built our university, freeway and water systems.

Like President Eisenhower when he decided to build the interstate highway system in the face of a looming recession. Like President Lincoln when he launched the transcontinental railroad while fighting the Civil War. No whining about tough times and priorities.

If we’re good and do the right things, we’re very likely to be rewarded with a dream train set: a sleek “bullet” system linking San Diego, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno, Sacramento, San Jose, San Francisco and points between.

Zip from L.A. to San Diego in one hour, L.A. to Sacramento in slightly over two, L.A. to San Francisco in 2 1/2. That’s competitive with planes, given the time wasted at airports being harassed.

Tickets would be cheaper than air fare. Example: $42 from L.A. to San Francisco.

The system’s cost isn’t cheap, however: $25 billion, including tracks and trains. Consider it an investment in growth, wealth and a better lifestyle.

But this high-speed train project is just poking along, running low on dollars, the fuel generated by political boldness and vision.

Only about $20 million has been invested in the program since it got rolling in 1993, when the Legislature created a study commission. The panel concluded that a high-speed rail line does make sense.

In 1996, a California High-Speed Rail Authority was created to design, build and operate the system. In 2000, it produced a “business plan”--routes, fares, costs--and asked Gov. Gray Davis and the Legislature for $14 million in the current budget to conduct environmental impact studies. It got zilch.

The California Transportation Commission did come through with $2.5 million to study routes between L.A. and San Diego, and L.A. and Bakersfield.

But the short funding “is slowing us down,” complains rail authority Chairman Rod Diridon, a Santa Clara County supervisor who runs a transportation think tank at San Jose State. “This has taken a lot more time than it needs to have taken.”

The authority now is asking Davis for $7 million in the next budget to continue the environmental work. The governor will unveil his budget proposal Jan. 10. Diridon says he has been tipped that Davis “is supportive of our request,” despite a projected $14-billion budget deficit.

Davis has spent a lot of money on conventional, creeping Amtrak--$500 million alone out of the general fund for improvements. But he seems skittish about futuristic, high-speed rail. No doubt because it’s also high-cost.

It’s the only rail system, however, that would be operationally self-sufficient, says Mehdi Morshed, the authority’s executive director. Tickets would pay for 100% of operation and 25% of construction. The other 75% would be picked up by the state and feds, probably with bonds.

Sacramento now kicks in $73 million annually to subsidize operation of Amtrak.

California “bullets” would run in the black, studies show, because riders would be attracted by convenience and comfort. Aboard these high-tech trains, there’d be no clicketyclack, let alone bumpity-bump, as on unreliable Amtrak.

There’d be no fogged-in trains, as there are planes. There’d be no sardine-like stuffing into a middle seat. No traffic tie-ups. The electric trains would reduce air pollution. They’d be safer than cars, planes and traditional trains--and inaccessible to pedestrians or motorists.

“You could never hijack a train,” says Morshed. “You couldn’t crash one into a building.”

People need new transportation options, especially after Sept. 11.

“High-speed’s going to happen in the next 30 years,” predicts Sen. Jim Costa (D-Fresno), whose bill created the rail authority. “The only question is will it happen on the watch of this governor and this Legislature.”

Costa says he’ll try to force the issue next year.

Unfortunately, California won’t get a complete train set for next Christmas either. But if we’re very good and do the right things, we can start acquiring it piece by piece.