[bardak]

Even if you insist on going through the cities in the valley they chose a construction sequence that takes the longest time to show any process. If they fast tracked LA-Bakersfield they could have extended the Amtrak San Joaquin service to LA by now. Concentrat on the SF-Merced section next and then you can work on the Merced-Bakersfield piece meal.

[socalgal2]

I thought they were unclear if LA-Bakerfield is even possible.

My understanding comes from a podcast that wasn't about the rail at all, it was about how to make decisions. In the podcast they gave the example that if you decide to have a music box and a dancing monkey at a fair to make money, which do you do first, make the music box or train the monkey. The answer is, train the monkey, because if you can't train the monkey there is no point in making the music box (something you know can be made).

Her point was people delude themselves into thinking they're making progress on a project by starting with the easy stuff. But the easy stuff is pointless if the hard stuff is impossible.

She gave the example of the California high-speed rail. They're building the flat easy part first but engineers have not figured out how they're going to build the train between Bakersfield and Los Angeles through the Tehachapi Mountains. Until they've figured that out the flat part is a waste of time and a false example of progress.

[bombcar]

But neither would have to be the first step.

Making the route from San Diego to LA high-speed is perfectly doable (the route exists already), and would be a great stepping stone.

Even if it turns out the Tehachapi is basically the mountains of Mordor and the project ends, you'd still have a valuable high-speed corridor.

[PaulDavisThe1st]

Unless, of course, the flat easy part has value anyway.

note: I'm not arguing whether it does or does not.

[pj_mukh]

"they're going to build the train between Bakersfield and Los Angeles through the Tehachapi Mountains."

OMG, just join the I-5 after Bakersfield. It's right there. Why are we barreling through the mountains?