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California High Speed Rail

And how to get the best rail for the best price!

Fredrick Schermer Penta Publishing Production

California High Speed Rail

What would aliens conclude when looking from outer space at the California high-speed rail system?

Aliens could conclude that California has central command, is living in a 19th/20th Century setting, and that Fresno is its Capital !

Aliens know that the fastest line is a straight line, and wonder about big bends.

There no connections First are to notice are between the 5 terminals; an five terminals; indication that these locations some in close proximity. are not of most importance.

Aliens know that the fastest They conclude that the line is a straight line, and geographical situation wonder big result. bends. must about force the

What are the locations where the most important humans reside?
This well connected location is This location must be either more important than important so than: location too, but less in the south.

This location must be important. More so than the two This location is important but ranks nearby un-connected below the other because it is not terminal locations. connected to the San Diego terminal.

FRESNO ! ! !

Fresno is connected to all terminals and to all important locations. No doubt about it! Its the Capital.

California has central command over large population centers themselves not interconnected!

California must be in a 19th/20th C. time frame based on it not making optimal use of transit system knowledge of the 20th/21st Century (more about this later).

Lets start from what weve got!

Lets first look at population distribution.

3,000,000 people

7,300,000 people

15,600,000 people
3,300,000 people
Source: Rand 2007

3,000,000 people

7,300,000 people

29,200,000 people
15,600,000 people More than 3 out of
every 4 Californians 3,300,000 people
77.5% of the entire California population

3,000,000 people

7,300,000 people

Medium Small but sized still cities with important growth cities forecasts

15,600,000 people
3,300,000 people
Source: Rand 2007

Population 15,600,000 7,300,000 3,300,000 3,000,000 7,300,000 800,000 -------------30,000,000

people

Making side trips to smaller The next is to cities on thestep left and right The two largest connect the high remaining diminishes the speed population centers must largest population product. receive prime position centers, while keeping and connect a straight a number close eye on direction The ofon stops needs line to maximize speed to and speed. 3,000,000 to be as few as possible and attraction the maximize speedfor and use. largest populations. Only one place lies close by enough to change this alignment without negative impact.
800,000 people

15,600,000 people
3,300,000 people

This is the F3MA

Population 15,600,000 7,300,000 3,300,000 3,000,000 800,000 -------------30,000,000

Fastest Maximum Money Making Alignment

Population 15,600,000 7,300,000 3,300,000 3,000,000 800,000 -------------30,000,000 550,000 2,850,000 1,700,000

Lets look at the rail transit systems already in place, easy to put in place, or easy to adjust, that could deliver further support for this alignment.

1,900,000
-------------37,000,000
98% Population

Having Areas local rail with transit local in rail place transit improves the number of people using High Speed Rail. Areas without it

Fewest Stops of F3MA High Speed Rail

San Francisco Bay Station (Oakland) San Jose Station

Sacramento Station

Avenal Station Bakersfield Station Los Angeles Station Burbank Station Orange County Station San Diego Station

What would the result be Areas with accelerated for California in 2050? A: growth due to version

Version B shows a further concentration of Growth acceleration the existing urban areas; due to version B: as desired in the plans for California (SB375).

Operational Differences

San Francisco Bay Station

San Diego Station

For the same operational level of service, one needs to go faster Either way is more expensive or lead to the or use more trainsRail perform slower. California High-Speed

SFB Station

SD Station

Are others making the same decisions as California?

Lets view the High-Speed Rail decisions made in the Netherlands, where The Hague and Rotterdam are found along the best alignment. Yet having a stop in both cities diminishes the High-Speed Rail product.

The Hague is where the decision makers reside; 12 miles away from Rotterdam.

High-Speed Rail Decisions in Holland

Which city should have a station?

Rotterdam?
The Hague? The government decides and is seated in The Hague.
Source: Mapping Netherlands B.V.

Amsterdam

Source: GVB

Rotterdam

Source: High Speed Rail Netherlands Source: RET

In Europe all only did the decision makers decide against themselves High-Speed Not lines are designed along in The Hague, not getting the best connection with the European Capital of Brussels straight lines from nor with Paris and London, important city to but the stations In Amsterdam and Rotterdam important city. are not perse in the hearts of the cities, but at the hearts of transit: the well-connected Central Stations. The High-Speed Rail alignment is a straight line from A to B, and the reason is simply, because not making the top performer in transit perform at its best, trickles down and diminishes all forms of transit hooking up with that High-Speed Rail.

That would be a waste of money.

Version A
Fast Expensive to build Expensive to operate

Version B
Faster Expensive to build Less expensive to operate

Politicians decision
Future adjustments possible Urban California spreading Politicians dream Requires more investing in regular infrastructure (roads)

Product-based decision
Future adjustments easier Urban California spreading less Users dream Requires less investing in regular infrastructure (roads)

Literature Review
California High-Speed Rail Authority http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/ Pushkarev, B., J. Zupan Metropolitan Transportation Commission Urban Rail in America, An http://www.mtc.ca.gov/ Exploration of Criteria for Fixed California Department of Transportation Guideway Transit (1982) Indiana http://www.dot.ca.gov/ University Press, Bloomington San Francisco City Scape Vuchic, Vukan R. http://www.sfcityscape.com/ Urban Transportation Systems Bay Area Council and Technology (1982) Prenticehttp://www.bayareacouncil.org/ Hall, Englewood Cliffs SPUR http://www.spur.org California Light Rail http://www.lightrail.com/usstates/california.htm

California High Speed Rail

And how to get the best rail for the best price!

Fredrick Schermer Penta Publishing Production

Email: fredrick@pentapublishing.com