Yes on Prop 1A

Yes on Prop 1A
Proposition 1A is an initiative that will bring Californians a safe, convenient, affordable, and reliable alternative to soaring gasoline prices, freeway congestion, rising airfares, plummeting airline service, and fewer flights available. “Proposition 1A is a $9.95 billion bond measure for an 800-mile High-Speed Train network that will relieve 70 million passenger trips a year that now clog California’s highways and airports.” (http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/argu-rebut/argu-rebutt1a.htm) Best of all Proposition 1A doesn’t raise taxes!

On Wednesday October 8, 2008, Calpirg had the current Mayor of Riverside Ronald Loveridge, as well as Jose Martinez, a leading in engineer in the Los Angeles County that will be heading the project, and Emilu Rush, the state-wide director of Calpirg speak at the Watkins lawn space on Proposition 1A.

According to Loveridge “…there is no perfect proposal or perfect project…” but our infrastructure isn’t in good enough shape to continue without such a high speed railway, especially considering the population of California will be approaching 50 million by the year 2012. [Current CA population is 38 million] To him the decision is a no brainer; “If not now, then when?,” he asked those in attendance.

This railway is not intended to compete with other railway systems, but rather “…it’s a tool in the tool box...,” says Jose Martinez. He sees the railway as a means to “connect the Inland Empire” with the rest of California, considering it is a “booming” portion of the state.

Not only would such a high-speed railway make life more convenient for residents of California, it would also get rid of some 12.7 billions pounds of gas emissions and will take some 100 million cars off of the highway.

Such monies for such a project would be needed anyway for many highway and airport expansions needed; in actuality building a high speed railway will be cheaper. As said by Emily Rush there would need to be some 222 miles of additions to infrastructures each year, as a consequence to not building the high speed railway.

The current proposal for such a project has arisen from 10 years of planning efforts. As from Mr. Martinez those working on the project have “…use[d] [their] best engineering judgment to use the best package we can present.”


-Ms. Proctor