Harry Reid And Obama's Boondoggle: Train Between Las Vegas To Victorville

From the Las Vegas Sun: DesertXpress, a proposed $6 billion high-speed rail line that would link Las Vegas with Victorville, Calif., cleared another major hurdle Friday with the Federal Railroad Administration’s release of its final environmental report on the route.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the completion of the environmental impact statement, a document that was reviewed by five federal agencies, during a press conference at UNLV’s Science and Engineering Building.
The announcement also included presentations by Sen. Harry Reid, Nevada Department of Transportation Director Susan Martinovich and UNLV President Neal Smatresk.
DesertXpress officials had expected the environmental report to be completed by the end of 2010 so the fact that was completed was no big surprise. But transportation experts say the announcement is significant because it is one of the first reports involving high-speed rail transportation, an important piece of President Obama’s transportation initiative.
An environmental report was completed for a high-speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando, but that project is in jeopardy because Florida Gov. Rick Scott in February rejected federal money for the line. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/mar/25/desertxpress-high-speed-rail-project-rolls-forward/
Oh, where to start.
First, who the hell wants to go to Victorville? Victorville is a medium sized city in San Bernadino County and it has some shopping, like Wal-Mart, Target and other stores like that. It has the usual problems with gangs and crime. The perfect tourist attraction. The hope is that there will be a train line from Victorville to somewhere in Southern California.
Very few people will want to go to just Victorville. Just plain stupid.
Second, the $50 price per ticket and $100 round trip to Victorville costs much more than if you drive.
Third, the end of the line is proposed at I-15 and Russell. Ok, and then what? You are going to need a parking garage along for those going to Victorville with a place to rent cars for those coming into Las Vegas. There is not enough space to build all of that by I-15 and
Russell.
Fourth, the cost is going to be $6 billion but you know the costs will be much more than that when include the purchase of land, more studies, law suits and the usual add ons.
Fifth, the taxpayers will be on the hook if this plan fails, which it will. Or the company will be asking the State for subsidies, money which the State does not have.
Finally, anything involving Harry Reid is not going to be a good idea. His ideas are usually bad and expensive and this is no different.
So, get ready, taxpayers. Bend over and take it in the butt from Harry Reid and President Obama.