News

12/24/16 – Los Angeles Times, “The hunt for dollars to build the $64-billion bullet train” By Ralph Vartabedian

10/05/16 – KPCC – AirTalk, “Checking in on California’s controversial bullet train proposals” With Larry Mantle, Guests: Megan McCarty, KPCC Reporter, Karo Torossian, director of planning and the environment for Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian, and Paul Dyson, President of Rail Passenger Association of California and Nevada, an organization that supports the expansion of passenger rail projects.

09/25/16 – Los Angeles Times, “Bullet train route across Big Tujunga Wash meets growing opposition” By Ralph Vartabedian

09/22/16 – LA Daily News “Bullet train plan in Valley horse country could be derailed by LA City Council” by Dana Bartholomew

09/01/16 – Los Angeles Daily News “High-speed rail’s proposed Valley route faces LAUSD challenge” by Dana Bartholomew

08/29/16 – Los Angeles Times, “High-speed rail critics question the first route segment, which will end in an almond orchard” By Ralph Vartabedian

08/18/16 – Los Angeles Times, “Capitol Journal: Gov. Brown’s attempt to save the planet and his bullet train won’t fly” By George Skelton

07/25/16 – Los Angeles Times, “Capitol Journal: Gov. Jerry Brown’s best hope for high-speed rail? A Donald Trump presidency” By George Skelton

07/05/16 – Los Angeles Daily News, “Editorial: More evidence bullet train would need a push from taxpayers” By Los Angeles Daily News Editorial Staff

07/03/16 – Orange County Register, “Opinion: High-speed rail still off the tracks” By Orange County Register Editorial

06/28/16 – MyNewsLA.com, “LA supervisors blast state’s high-speed rail Palmdale to Burbank” By Stephanie Michaud

06/20/16 – Los Angeles Times, “Did bullet train officials ignore warning about need for taxpayer money?” By Ralph Vartabedian

06/10/16 – Los Angeles Daily News, “Editorial: Cut bullet train, put that cash in rainy-day fund” By Los Angeles Daily News Editorial Staff

05/23/16 – Los Angeles Times, “Horse owners in the San Fernando Valley feel trod on by bullet train” By Ralph Vartabedian

05/15/16 – Orange County Register, “Opinion: California’s train of fraught” By Baruch Feigenbaum

05/04/16 – LA Times, “Editorial Californians deserve more transparency on bullet train finances” By The Times Editorial Board

04/22/16 – The Los Angeles Daily News, “Fiscal scrutiny long overdue for bullet train ” By The Editorial Board, LA Daily News

04/21/16 – Los Angeles Times, “Rail authority revises bullet train plan to link Merced to initial operating segment” By Ralph Vartabedian

04/21/16 – The Los Angeles Daily News, “California high-speed rail officials tinker with $64B plan” By Juliet Williams, The Associated Press

04/20/16 – Los Angeles Times, “Bullet train agency is expected to go forward with business plan despite widespread criticism” By Ralph Vartabedian

04/18/16 – Los Angeles Times, “Lawmakers seek to tighten bullet train oversight, suggesting growing concern about the project” By Ralph Vartabedian

04/13/16 – Independent Institute, “California’s High-Speed Rail Authority Wins Dishonor of the California Golden Fleece Award” By Lawrence J. McQuillan

04/12/16 – Los Angeles Times, “San Fernando Valley residents sound off on proposed bullet train routes” By Ralph Vartabedian

04/11/16 – The Los Angeles Daily News, “Latest plan for California’s high-speed rail calls for tunnel into San Fernando Valley” By City News Service

04/11/16 – Orange County Register, “Opinion: Bullet train still on track to go almost nowhere” By Orange County Register Editorial

04/10/16 – NBC LA “News Conference” Conan Nolan interviews CHSRA Chairman Dan Richard about the revised routes of High Speed Rail.

04/08/16 – Los Angeles Times, “State releases new details on possible bullet train routes” By Ralph Vartabedian

03/28/16 – Los Angeles Times, “What’s ahead for bullet train funding? Hearing outlines the many risks” By Ralph Vartabedian

03/28/16 – Los Angeles Daily News, “Opinion – Light rail doing fine; not so for bullet train” By Thomas D. Elias

03/28/16 – Los Angeles Times, “Changes could add hundreds of millions of dollars to first 29 miles of bullet train” By Ralph Vartabedian

03/28/16 – Los Angeles Times, “Doubts about bullet train rising in Southern California” By Ralph Vartabedian

03/18/16 – Los Angeles Times, “State has funds to build first segment of bullet train, legislative analyst finds” By Ralph Vartabedian

03/17/16 – Los Angeles Times, “State revises proposed bullet train routes, but San Fernando Valley communities remain skeptical” By Ralph Vartabedian

03/17/16 – NBC Los Angeles, “SoCal High Speed Rail Route Change Has Neighbors Upset” Reported by Conan Nolan and Dennis Lahti

03/17/16 – Los Angeles Daily News, “Valley residents give proposed new bullet train routes mixed reviews” By Dana Bartholomew

03/12/16 – Orange County Register, “OPINION: Taxpayers need to derail bullet-train debacle” By Adrian Moore

03/04/16 – Los Angeles Times, “New bullet train plan delays opening of the first leg by three years” By Ralph Vartabedian

02/19/16 – Orange County Register, “OPINION: Bullet train an ever-shifting mirage” By Orange County Register Editorial

02/18/16 – Los Angeles Times, “Change in bullet train construction plans will delay rail line’s arrival in Southern California” By Dan Weikel and Ralph Vartabedian

02/16/16 – Los Angeles Times, “Cost of California bullet train’s Central Valley leg projected to grow by $260 million” By Ralph Vartabedian

02/15/16 – Los Angeles Times, “Proposal would shift bullet train funding for use on new water projects” By Ralph Vartabedian

02/07/16 – Orange County Register, “OPINION: Bullet-train foes railroaded at legislative hearing” By Orange County Register Editorial

01/28/16 – Los Angeles Times, “Bullet train may take longer to build but cost less than originally estimated, official says” By Ralph Vartabedian

01/23/16 – Los Angeles Times, “Bullet train’s first segment, reserved for Southland, could open in Bay Area instead” By Ralph Vartabedian

12/09/15 – Los Angeles Times, “California Democrat withdraws support for the high-speed rail project” By Ralph Vartabedian

12/03/15 – Los Angeles Daily News, “Northeast Valley residents still ballistic over bullet train routes” By Dana Bartholomew

11/26/15 – Los Angeles Times, “Bullet train faces new scrutiny after release of report predicting higher costs” By Ralph Vartabedian

11/14/15 – Los Angeles Daily News, “Ballot measures aim to cut purse strings for Delta tunnels, high-speed rail” By Josh Richman

11/12/15 – Orange Count Register, “Proposal: divert billions from rail into water” By Juliet Williams, The Associated Press

11/5/15 – The Los Angeles Times, “Editorial: Red flags for high-speed rail” By The Times Editorial Board

11/3/15 – The Los Angeles Times, “At lawmakers’ urging, agency reveals report on growing bullet train costs” By Ralph Vartabedian

11/3/15 – Los Angeles Daily News, “Editorial: Bullet train tries to roll past bad news” By The Editorial Board, LA Daily News

10/24/15 – The Los Angeles Times, “Special Report $68-billion California bullet train project likely to overshoot budget and deadline targets” By Ralph Vartabedian

10/23/15 – The Orange County Register, “Opinion – Private money running from bullet train” By Orange County Editorial

10/08/15 – The Los Angeles Times, “California bullet train project is attracting interest — but not funding” By Ralph Vartabedian

08/18/15 – The Burbank Leader, “State eyes land owned by Bob Hope Airport for high-speed rail project” By Chad Garland

08/09/15 – Los Angeles Times, “Grand jury report critical of Kings County’s suits against bullet train draws fire” By Ralph Vartabedian

07/30/15 – Los Angeles Daily News, “On bullet train, voters finally may get to apply the brakes: Susan Shelley” By Susan Shelley

07/29/15 – Marketplace.org, “A rural town hates the coming of high-speed trains” By Jeff Tyler

07/27/15 – Marketplace.org, “A desert city welcomes California’s high-speed train” By Jeff Tyler

07/25/15 – Los Angeles Times, “Study outlines congestion, air pollution improvements for Bob Hope Airport” By Chad Garland

07/24/15 – City Watch LA, “High Speed Rail: Off Track In My Backyard” By Denyse Selesnick

07/22/15 – Yahoo Finance News, “SENER Takes Part in the California High Speed Line” The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA), has awarded SENER (a Spain based company) the contract to develop the engineering and environmental services for the Palmdale to Burbank section of the California high speed line.

06/8/15 – Santa Clarita Valley News, “Lawmakers Looking to Lick High-Speed Rail” From KHTS, HomeTownStation.com

06/8/15 – LA Weekly, “What an Unholy Mess This California Bullet Train Meeting Is Going To Be” By Hillel Aron

06/8/15 – Los Angeles Times, “First phase of bullet train is cut due to Bakersfield, Shafter disputes” By Dan Weikel and Ralph Vartabedian

06/4/15 – Los Angeles Daily News, “Bullet-train board must show it listens to local worries: Editorial” By The Editorial Board, LA Daily News

05/30/15 – Los Angeles Daily News, “San Fernando leaders draw a line against high-speed rail” By Dana Bartholomew

05/30/15 – Los Angeles Times, “San Fernando leaders confront state officials over bullet train route” By Ralph Vartabedian

05/10/15 – Los Angeles Times, “Doing the math on California’s bullet train fares” By Ralph Vartabedian & Dan Weikel

04/21/15 – The Santa Clarita Signal, “Santa Clarita urges regional cooperation to fight high speed rail” By Luke Money

04/01/15 – CalWatchdog.com, “Rising CA Democratic stars want no part of bullet train” – By Chris Reed

03/20/15 – The Los Angeles Times, “Readers React High-speed rail and development are drought-intolerant, readers say” – By Paul Thornton

03/20/15 – The Santa Clarita Valley Signal, “California high-speed rail dilemma” – By Kevin Korenthal

03/17/15 – The Santa Clarita Valley Signal, “UPDATE: SCV delegates hear 2 sides of California’s high-speed rail plan” – By Jason Schaff

03/03/15 – Los Angeles Times, “Bullet train contractor seeks state compensation for project delays” By Ralph Vartabedian

02/24/15 – Los Angeles Times, “Critics fear bullet train will bring urban sprawl to Central Valley” – By Ralph Vartabedian

02/15/15 – Los Angeles Times, “On train, tunnel, Newsom would change course from Brown” By George Skelton

02/05/15 – The San Fernando Sun, “Residents Across the Valley Begin Process to Unify Efforts to Object to High-Speed Rail Through Their Communities” – By Diana Martinez

02/03/15 – Public radio station, KCRW (89.9 FM), presented a feature on our communities’ battle vs. high speed rail on Feb. 3. Our situation was discussed on “Which Way LA” hosted by Warren Olney and featuring Saul Gonzalez’s report.
Here is the audio of the entire segment, with commentary between host Warren Olney and reporter/producer Saul Gonzalez at the end. There is a segment about voting at the beginning, just be patient.

01/22/15 – Los Angeles Daily News, “Editorial: Don’t put the bullet train through L.A. horse country” By The Los Angeles News Group Editorial Board, LA Daily News

790 – KABC, “Doug McIntyre interviews Dave DePinto regarding the High Speed Rail’s proposed East Corridor”

01/17/15 – The Burbank Leader, “Editorial: Rail-tunnel proposal is not the best solution” By Burbank Leader

01/15/15 – Los Angeles Business Journal, “Schiff Opposing High Speed Rail Tunnel Route Through Forest” By Business Journal Staff

01/15/15 – Glendale News-Press, “Schiff decries proposal for high-speed rail tunnel below Angeles National Forest” By Arin Mikailian

01/15/15 – San Fernando Valley Business Journal, “Schiff Opposing High Speed Rail Tunnel Route” By Mark Madler

01/15/15 – NBCLA, “I Don’t Want to Ride My Horse Under the Rail:” Rural LA Communities Blast Bullet Train Route.” By Michael Larkin and Beverly White. Coverage of the January 13th Train Wreck Meeting

01/15/15 – The San Fernando Valley Sun, “Hundreds Gather In Opposition to High-Speed Rail” By Diana Martinez

01/14/15 – ABC 7, “Residents Express Concerns Over High-Speed Rail Through Angeles National Forest” By Melissa MacBride. Coverage of the January 13th Train Wreck Meeting

01/14/15 – Los Angeles Times, “2,000 rally against plan to put high-speed rail in Angeles forest” By Dan Weikel. Coverage of the January 13th Train Wreck Meeting.  Also appeared Jan. 18, 2015 in print in the Los Angeles Times, California Section, with the title “Critics protest forest rail route” By Dan Weikel.

01/13/15 – ABC 7 – 6:00pm Report Before January 13th Train Wreck meeting and interview with David DePinto. By Melissa MacBride.

01/06/15 – The Los Angeles Daily News “San Fernando Valley’s cowboy country braces for a bullet train” By Dana Bartholomew.

12/09/14 – The Burbank Leader “Officials present route options for high-speed rail” By Chad Garland

10/2014 – North Valley Reporter – “Monumental step for the San Gabriels and Open Space Preservation” by Congressman Adam Schiff

08/29/14 – Los Angeles Times “Proposal for rail corridor through Angeles National Forest draws fire” By Dan Weikel

08/23/14 – Los Angeles Times “L.A. County supervisor’s alternate bullet-train route gaining traction” By Dan Weikel

07/31/14 – Los Angeles Times “California bullet train project wins major court victory” By Ralph Vartabedian and Dan Weikel

06/30/14 – Los Angeles Times “Burbank-Palmdale segment added to bullet train timetable” By Ralph Vartabedian

08/25/16 – Forbes, “California’s Cap-And-Trade Program Is Sick And Will Take High-Speed Rail Down With It” By Chuck DeVore

08/21/16 – Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, “High Speed Rail Is ‘On Track’ to Incur Billions in Overruns” By Jon Coupal

06/28/16 – Bloomberg, “California Hits the Brakes on High-Speed Rail Fiasco” By Virginia Postrel

06/25/16 – East Bay Times, “Editorial: California’s wasteful bullet train funding fantasy” By East Bay Times Editorial

05/22/16 – The Wall Street Journal, “Opinion: California’s Bullet Train to Whenever – Maybe the choo-choo will be built someday, heading somewhere” By WSJ Editorial Staff

05/19/16 – Mercury News, “Feds sign updated $2.5 billion high-speed rail grant with California” By Associated Press

05/18/16 – Politico, “High-speed rail gets a four-year delay, The first segment of the California bullet train won’t run till 2022 at the earliest”

03/27/16 – The Economist, “Taxpayers could pay dearly for California’s high-speed-train dreams”

03/21/16 – CalWatchdog.com, “Bullet-train route change doesn’t win over many” By Chris Reed

03/18/16 – Forbes, “California’s High Speed Rail System Just Isn’t Economic: Kill It, Kill It Now” By Tim Worstall

03/07/16 – The Hamilton Report, “Review of CHSRA 2016 Business Plan- Part 2” By Kathy Hamilton

03/07/16 – The Hamilton Report, “Review of CHSRA 2016 Business Plan- Part 1” By Kathy Hamilton

02/26/16 – Silcon Valley Business Journal, “Explained: Why do cost and completion estimates fluctuate so wildly for high-speed rail?” By Jody Meecham

02/23/16 – Wired Magazine, “Naysayers Force California’s Bullet Train to Change Tack” By Nick Stockton

02/23/16 – CalWatchdog.com, “Bullet train plan counting on new federal funding” By Chris Reed

02/21/16 – The Bakersfield Californian, “Now it’s really a train to nowhere” By The Bakersfield Californian

02/21/16 – The Sacramento Bee, “Editorial: High-speed rail detour is smart, if tricky politically” By The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board

02/20/16 – The Sacramento Bee, “Editorial: Big issues still dog fast train” By Dan Walters

02/19/16 – San Jose Mercury News, “Mercury News editorial: High-speed rail still a boondoggle, even if supposedly coming to San Jose” By Mercury News Editorial

02/19/16 – Contra Costa Times, “Oakland Tribune editorial: HSR embarks on another trip to Fantasyland” By Oakland Tribune Editorial

02/16/16 – Hoodlike, “Planning Unveils Initial Study On Rerouting Rail Lines, Razing Portion Of I-280”

02/16/16 – The Fresno Bee, “Risks rising for cost increases on high-speed rail construction” By Tim Sheehan

02/12/16 – The Hamilton Report, “CA High Speed Rail: TOS court case part 2” By Kathy Hamilton

01/26/16 – Business Insider, “California’s high-speed rail project is in big trouble” By William Fierman

12/14/15 – The Hamilton Report, “Crazy things are going on in Sacramento with CHSRA” By Kathy Hamilton

11/25/15 – MSN – Money, “20 biggest tax-dollar boondoggles in the U.S. – #1. California’s High Speed Rail – $68 Billion” By Stefanie O’Connell

10/30/15 – The Hamilton Report, “High-Speed Rail Project or Dead Cow Walking: Part II” By Kathy Hamilton

10/30/15 – The Hamilton Report, “New California’s Rail Project Woes” By Kathy Hamilton

10/23/15 – Governing.com, “A Bullet Train Into a Fiscal Swamp? – The more you look at the California high-speed rail project’s finances, the shakier they seem.” By Charles Chieppo

10/21/15 – Sacramento Business Journal, “Siemens raises questions about financial underpinnings of high-speed rail” By Allen Young

10/19/15 – Bloomberg Business, “Banks May Balk at Financing $68 Billion California Bullet Train” By James Nash

10/14/15 – Palo Alto Online, “Palo Alto blasts high-speed rail project for moving too fast” By Gennady Sheyner

08/29/15 – San Diego Union-Tribune, “High-speed rail project: Dead train walking?” By San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board

08/09/15 – Examiner.com, “Upcoming High-Speed Rail case challenges key voter promises” By Kathy Hamilton

08/05/15 – California Political Review, “Supreme Court: High Speed Rail Must Abide by CEQA—Could Kill Project” By Stephen Frank

07/24/15 – Examiner.com, “Legislative Democrats showing doubts about the High-Speed Rail program” By Kathy Hamilton

07/21/15 – California Political Review, “High Speed Rail Authority Awards $1.2 Billion Contract—No $$ or EIR” By Stephen Frank

07/18/15 – The Fresno Bee, “Fresno County’s Measure C may aid land purchase for high-speed rail maintenance site” By Tim Sheehan

07/13/15 – The Fresno Bee, “More properties eyed in Valley counties for high-speed rail” By Tim Sheehan

06/28/15 – The Fresno Bee, “More than 200 properties face condemnation to clear way for high-speed rail” By Tim Sheehan

06/11/15 – The Fresno Bee, “Denham takes a Capitol step toward stopping high-speed rail” By Curtis Tate

05/28/15 – Examiner.com, “Funny business with the High-Speed Rail Project, a closer look” By Kathy Hamilton

05/11/15 – The Press Enterprise, “EDITORIAL: More bullet-train funny math” By Press-Enterprise Editorial

04/14/15 – Fox & Hounds, “Lawmakers Dismiss Efforts To Protect Property Rights From High-Speed Rail” By John Hrabe Also posted on CalWatchDog.com

04/14/15 – The Fresno Bee, “$261 million set aside for potential high-speed rail cost overruns in Valley” By Tim Sheehan The HSR cost overruns begin…

04/08/15 – Forbes, “How Bad Policies And Bad Ideas Caused The California Water Shortage” By Thomas Del Beccaro (page two specifically addresses HSR)

03/03/15 – Examiner.com, “Rail Authority’s Legislative Reports is not a “tell all” report” By Kathy Hamilton – SF Transportation Policy

02/23/15 – The Sacramento Bee, “Field Poll: Jerry Brown riding high, but not his big projects” By David Siders

02/21/15 – The Week, “The most expensive public-works project in U.S. history” By The Week Staff

02/19/15 – SFGate, “California high-speed rail dealt blow by Newsom’s about-face” By Carla Marinucci

02/13/15 – CNN, “World’s largest tunneling machine still stuck”

02/01/15 – Examiner.com, “Violation of Endangered Species Act further hampers High-Speed Rail progress” By Kathy Hamilton – SF Transportation Policy

01/15/15 – The San Diego Union-Tribune, “Costly high-speed rail not good for state or San Diego” By W. Mark Leslie

01/15/15 – Crescenta Valley Weekly, “Standing Room Only at HSR Meeting” By Mary O’Keefe

01/14/15 – YAHOO News, “The twisted saga behind California’s bullet train” Subtitle: “It’s a bold vision!” “No, it’s an Obama-esque boondoggle!” What the Golden State’s war over high-speed rail says about America’s ability to do Big Things. By Andrew Romano.

09/17/14 – Anteleope Valley Press “Rail plan digs up more non-fans” By Charles F. Bostwick

08/24/14 – The Atlantic “California High-Speed Rail—More Questions and Concerns” By James Fallows

08/03/14 – The Wall Street Journal “California Plans Bullet Train Without More U.S. Aid” By Alejandro Lazo

Undated – NEXUS (David Levinson’s Networks, Economics and Urban Systems Research Group) “California’s High Speed Rail: Some Facts” By David Levinson, University of Minnesota