Speaking of NIMBY

[Irvinecommuter]

Disclaimer:  I am a complete shill for high speed rail...US is far behind everyone else on this matter.  More highspeed rail, fewer cars and less air traffic.

"Over the last decade, the California bullet train has been largely confined to futuristic renderings and promised trips of about 2 1/2 hours from Los Angeles to San Francisco. But as its effects on urban areas come more sharply into focus, opposition is intensifying among people along its path.

The $68-billion project has already faced lawsuits and political battles in upscale Bay Area cities, as well as Central Valley farmlands, forcing officials to make design concessions and in some cases adding to construction delays.

As the detailed planning process begins to shift to Southern California, community leaders and neighborhood groups are launching challenges to a segment that would run between Palmdale and Burbank."

http://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-high-speed-rail-20150610-story.html#page=1

 

[momopi]

At this point, I'd be happy if they just add more & earlier trains to existing train system.

I'd love to take the train to work, but it'd need to get me to work by 7AM.  With current train schedle, it won't even get me to work before 8:30AM.

 

[Irvinecommuter]

At this point, I'd be happy if they just add more & earlier trains to existing train system.

I'd love to take the train to work, but it'd need to get me to work by 7AM.  With current train schedle, it won't even get me to work before 8:30AM.

Yup, Metrolink is not good unless you work between 8-9 a.m.  High speed train does the trip between Anaheim and LA in 20 minutes!

 

[BruinRevolution]

Those selfish people who don't want the bullet trains to cause loud noise and vibration while impacting their water supply and real estate value! The nerve of those losers! Now please excuse me while I vehemently protest the Veterans Cemetery that will ruin all of us homeowners near Sand Canyon and Trabuco.  : ;D

 

[yaliu07]

At this point, I'd be happy if they just add more & earlier trains to existing train system.

I'd love to take the train to work, but it'd need to get me to work by 7AM.  With current train schedle, it won't even get me to work before 8:30AM.

Yup, Metrolink is not good unless you work between 8-9 a.m.  High speed train does the trip between Anaheim and LA in 20 minutes!

you love to have it.  but are you okay to have the train in your backyard?  i think that's dilemma. 

btw, isn't same situation with 710 fwy around s pasadena?

 

[Irvinecommuter]

At this point, I'd be happy if they just add more & earlier trains to existing train system.

I'd love to take the train to work, but it'd need to get me to work by 7AM.  With current train schedle, it won't even get me to work before 8:30AM.

Yup, Metrolink is not good unless you work between 8-9 a.m.  High speed train does the trip between Anaheim and LA in 20 minutes!

you love to have it.  but are you okay to have the train in your backyard?  i think that's dilemma. 

btw, isn't same situation with 710 fwy around s pasadena?

That's why it's called NIMBY!  I like HSR because it would actually help lower income communities.  People don't have to live in bad neighborhoods near urban centers or drive 3 hours a day.  They can live in Bakersfield or Vacaville and commute to work reasonably.

 

[jmoney74]

Hyperloop. Arent they testing in central CA soon?

 

[Irvinecommuter]

Hyperloop. Arent they testing in central CA soon?

Even better!  Although...stuff like this always take a lot longer than anticipated.
http://arstechnica.co.uk/cars/2015/...actually-being-built-in-california-next-year/

 

[yaliu07]

At this point, I'd be happy if they just add more & earlier trains to existing train system.

I'd love to take the train to work, but it'd need to get me to work by 7AM.  With current train schedle, it won't even get me to work before 8:30AM.

Yup, Metrolink is not good unless you work between 8-9 a.m.  High speed train does the trip between Anaheim and LA in 20 minutes!

you love to have it.  but are you okay to have the train in your backyard?  i think that's dilemma. 

btw, isn't same situation with 710 fwy around s pasadena?

That's why it's called NIMBY!  I like HSR because it would actually help lower income communities.  People don't have to live in bad neighborhoods near urban centers or drive 3 hours a day.  They can live in Bakersfield or Vacaville and commute to work reasonably.

haha, can we call them anti-train

 

[Ready2Downsize]

At this point, I'd be happy if they just add more & earlier trains to existing train system.

I'd love to take the train to work, but it'd need to get me to work by 7AM.  With current train schedle, it won't even get me to work before 8:30AM.

Yup, Metrolink is not good unless you work between 8-9 a.m.  High speed train does the trip between Anaheim and LA in 20 minutes!

you love to have it.  but are you okay to have the train in your backyard?  i think that's dilemma. 

btw, isn't same situation with 710 fwy around s pasadena?

That's why it's called NIMBY!  I like HSR because it would actually help lower income communities.  People don't have to live in bad neighborhoods near urban centers or drive 3 hours a day.  They can live in Bakersfield or Vacaville and commute to work reasonably.

Sure. The cost of the train would be high. My hubby pays nearly $400 per month for a pass that goes to Burbank. Luckily the studios have a free shuttle that connects the train to their lots or he'd be paying for the bus too. I imagine HSR is going to be none too cheap, so those who think they are saving on housing will be spending money on the train.

 

[Irvinecommuter]

At this point, I'd be happy if they just add more & earlier trains to existing train system.

I'd love to take the train to work, but it'd need to get me to work by 7AM.  With current train schedle, it won't even get me to work before 8:30AM.

Yup, Metrolink is not good unless you work between 8-9 a.m.  High speed train does the trip between Anaheim and LA in 20 minutes!

you love to have it.  but are you okay to have the train in your backyard?  i think that's dilemma. 

btw, isn't same situation with 710 fwy around s pasadena?

That's why it's called NIMBY!  I like HSR because it would actually help lower income communities.  People don't have to live in bad neighborhoods near urban centers or drive 3 hours a day.  They can live in Bakersfield or Vacaville and commute to work reasonably.

Sure. The cost of the train would be high. My hubby pays nearly $400 per month for a pass that goes to Burbank. Luckily the studios have a free shuttle that connects the train to their lots or he'd be paying for the bus too. I imagine HSR is going to be none too cheap, so those who think they are saving on housing will be spending money on the train.

Still cheaper than car expenses, parking, and gas...to mention driving stress and fatigue.  Trains are great because you are not driving and can rest/read/surf the net.  It's really low stress commuting.

 

[Ready2Downsize]

For us the money spent on the train doesn't matter. His company pays for it. But it's not stress free and the trains have more issues than you might think. Last night there was some kind of switching problem and trains out of Burbank were delayed more than an hour.

You still need transportation to get to the train station (luckily we live close enough to the Irvine or Tustin station) so you still need car insurance, etc. AND you need some way to get to wherever you are going after you get off the train. In his case a free shuttle provided by the movie studios but that only runs in the mornings and evenings. He has had days when the train didn't get to it's destination on time (train hit a body or mechanical issues) and then he has to catch a bus. If he's late for a meeting because of the train he has to catch a cab).

Just because the train you are riding on has no issues doesn't mean it will be on time. ANOTHER train with issues can cause problems since they use the same tracks.

AND train passes aren't a pass to go anywhere. They go to a specific place, so if I want to use it on a day he's home to go to Riverside or if he had to go to San Diego for a different client, sorry, no go.

He used to ride the train to San Diego but once again he had to connect (to the coaster) which meant he had to wait around for his connection and there was no bus to his job so he had to walk a mile every day to and from work with his heavy backpack loaded with his laptop (heavier 15 years ago) and all his work papers...... and it rained more 15 years ago.

If you're taking the train to and from work don't forget you have to bring everything you need every day and you have to pack it up to bring it back home with you so add some time at work to get yourself ready to go home. There is no, I have that in my car cuz you don't have a car. What you can and did bring is what you have. So maybe you're lucky and you just bring yourself and a phone but people going to work don't just bring a phone.

You want to go out to lunch when you're at work? Hoof it, take a cab, bus or carpool with someone cuz you have no car. Need to go shopping at lunch? Don't forget you got to bring it all back with your work gear when you go home.

Someone scheduled a late meeting cuz that's when the big boss had time to get there (happens ALOT to my hubby), no problem.......... there's another train in an hour.

You can surf the net on the train but if you do that a lot you have to have a high data plan/hot spot. Talk on the phone........ it's loud in the background with the train conductor's announcements so count on mostly texting.

And some day the trains are going to have more security checks. Why you can just get on a train without even a metal detector but you have to go thru TSA for a plane is beyond me. Right now it's some dog sniffing dogs on occasion and random checks for tickets.

 

[Irvinecommuter]

@R2D    I feel that you have strong feelings on the subject.

Metrolink is not very efficient....no plugs or internet and bad schedule.  It is also more helpful if your work is near a metro station. 

Amtrak is more comfortable, has plugs, and free (spotty) wifi.  I would assume that HSR would be in line with other HSR systems in quality and service. 
http://www.bahn.com/i/view/USA/en/trains/overview/ice.shtml

 

[bones]

I've commuted on NYC subway, DC metro, jersey commuter trains, Acela, regional Amtrak for many many years. There are obviously pros and cons to everything but nothing beats having your car and controlling your own schedule/time/freedom. NYC subway was probably the most versatile and despite that, I had to use cabs/car service to bail me out more often than I wanted to.

 

[Irvinecommuter]

I've commuted on NYC subway, DC metro, jersey commuter trains, Acela, regional Amtrak for many many years. There are obviously pros and cons to everything but nothing beats having your car and controlling your own schedule/time/freedom. NYC subway was probably the most versatile and despite that, I had to use cabs/car service to bail me out more often than I wanted to.

Oh most definitely..cars give you most flexibility and time control  Mass transit helps lower middle class workers the most.

 

[Ready2Downsize]

At this point, I'd be happy if they just add more & earlier trains to existing train system.

I'd love to take the train to work, but it'd need to get me to work by 7AM.  With current train schedle, it won't even get me to work before 8:30AM.

Yup, Metrolink is not good unless you work between 8-9 a.m.  High speed train does the trip between Anaheim and LA in 20 minutes!

you love to have it.  but are you okay to have the train in your backyard?  i think that's dilemma. 

btw, isn't same situation with 710 fwy around s pasadena?

That's why it's called NIMBY!  I like HSR because it would actually help lower income communities.  People don't have to live in bad neighborhoods near urban centers or drive 3 hours a day.  They can live in Bakersfield or Vacaville and commute to work reasonably.

Sure. The cost of the train would be high. My hubby pays nearly $400 per month for a pass that goes to Burbank. Luckily the studios have a free shuttle that connects the train to their lots or he'd be paying for the bus too. I imagine HSR is going to be none too cheap, so those who think they are saving on housing will be spending money on the train.

Still cheaper than car expenses, parking, and gas...to mention driving stress and fatigue.  Trains are great because you are not driving and can rest/read/surf the net.  It's really low stress commuting.

Current metrolink one way fare from Union Station to Burbank is $6.25

Current metrolink one way fare from Anaheim to Union Station is $8.75

Double those for round trip. Not sure what they were in 2013 but I know fares have gone up since then.

HSR fares from LA to Burbank are expected to be $26 in 2013 dollars

HSR fares from Anaheim to LA are expected to be $29 in 2013 dollars.

Gets you where you're going faster but then you STILL have to have a way TO the train station and FROM the train station and you're out a whole lot more of moola for train fares.

Anaheim is expected to be completed by 2029, but I doubt that will get done. There are already delays in the first phase.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

I still wish the light rail wasn't kiboshed in Irvine.

I was probably one of the few who supported it running through Woodbridge even though it was near my home when I lived there. It's not like the train had any ghosts.

 

[ukuoy]

US has said goodbye to the era when massive constructions can take places easily. Even adding an extra lane to 405 ends up all kinds of disputes and extremely high cost. In China, government will do whatever they can to force residents evacuate their home and land for freeway or high speed railway construction. Some are legal others are not. Despite the loss of those residents, the hsr will eventually be built and benefits millions of people

 

[iacrenter]

US has said goodbye to the era when massive constructions can take places easily. Even adding an extra lane to 405 ends up all kinds of disputes and extremely high cost. In China, government will do whatever they can to force residents evacuate their home and land for freeway or high speed railway construction. Some are legal others are not. Despite the loss of those residents, the hsr will eventually be built and benefits millions of people

One of the big benefits of Communism is the ease of central planning. No NIMBY Tree Hugging Lawyer Toting protestors to stand between the government and whatever they want--hydroelectric dam, high speed rail, etc...

 

[Irvinecommuter]

US has said goodbye to the era when massive constructions can take places easily. Even adding an extra lane to 405 ends up all kinds of disputes and extremely high cost. In China, government will do whatever they can to force residents evacuate their home and land for freeway or high speed railway construction. Some are legal others are not. Despite the loss of those residents, the hsr will eventually be built and benefits millions of people

Or short sighted people screaming about taxpayer money being wasted

Also...China is not communistic..it's a oligarchy. 

One of the big benefits of Communism is the ease of central planning. No NIMBY Tree Hugging Lawyer Toting protestors to stand between the government and whatever they want--hydroelectric dam, high speed rail, etc...

W