2/4/2014 Taking California's bullet train to a greener future - latimes.com
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/commentary/la-oe-kelly-california-high-speed-rail-20140129,0,2395887.story#axzz2rzeJdO00 1/5
Comments 1 1 7 Email Share Tweet 76 10
OP-ED
By 2040, high-speed rail could reduce car miles traveled in the state by 3.6 billion miles ayear, the equivalent of taking 317,000 cars off the road each day.
By Brian P. Kelly and Mary D. Nichols
January 29, 2014
Member Center Alerts & Newsletters Jobs Cars Real Estate Rentals Weekly Circulars Local Directory Place Ad
OPINION
LOCAL U.S. WORLD BUSINESS SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT HEALTH STYLE TRAVEL OPINION SHOP
TRENDING NOW STOCKS HEROIN SURGE PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN CHRIS CHRISTIE OBAMACARE SHARE IT NOWSearch
Taking California's bullet train to a greener future
172
California's high-speed rail is one of the largest public works
projects anywhere in the world. Like the Golden Gate Bridge,
Bay Area Rapid Transit, Interstate 5 and the California
Aqueduct before it, high-speed rail has engendered
opposition, consternation and litigation. Every bold,
transformative vision faces that litany.
This year's state budget includes high-speed rail as an
important part of California's landmark effort to reduce
Recommended on Facebook
Oscar-winning actor Maximilian
Schell has died at 83
4,281 people recommend this.
Budweiser 'Puppy Love' Super Bowl
ad was a labor of love
8,467 people recommend this.
Philip Seymour Hoffman found
dead of apparent overdose, police
say
7,757 people recommend this.
UCLA beats USC in key recruiting
battle, keeping Adrian Klemm
57 people recommend this.
In El Salvador presidential vote,
leftist Sanchez Ceren ahead
64 people recommend this.
In L.A., anything but a crack
response to tree-buckled
sidewalks
120 people recommend this.
Connect
783kLike
a d ve rt i se m e n t
Hoffman's death bringsattention to heroin'srise
GOP Obamacarealternative designed tofail?
'Polar vortex ' cost fliersabout $2.5 billion
EDITORIALS OP-ED LETTERS OPINION L.A. TOP OF THE TICKET READERS' REP
Photos: Gov . Jerry Brown: Is hesav ing California or ruining it? The
9 big issues
Rela ted ph otos »
Th is y ea r 's sta te bu dg et in clu des h ig h -speed r a il a s a n im por ta n t pa r t of Ca lifor n ia 's la n dm a r k effor t to
r edu ce g r een h ou se g a s em ission s a n d fig h t clim a te ch a n g e. A bov e: Ca lifor n ia Gov . Jer r y Br ow n
spea kin g to jou r n a lists fr om a h ig h -speed tr a in in Ch in a in 2 01 3 . (Ng Ha n Gu a n / A ssocia ted Pr ess /
Ja n u a r y 2 8 , 2 01 4 )
96Like
Hi, 783kLike
2/4/2014 Taking California's bullet train to a greener future - latimes.com
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/commentary/la-oe-kelly-california-high-speed-rail-20140129,0,2395887.story#axzz2rzeJdO00 2/5
greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change. Although
the Air Resources Board included high-speed rail in its 2008
greenhouse gas reduction plan, the project's economic
benefits have been discussed in more detail than its
environmental ones.
Today, California has 32 million registered vehicles, more
cars and trucks that travel more miles — more than 330
billion — than any other state. Without high-speed rail, the
existing transportation infrastructure cannot reasonably
meet the demands of the projected 12 million new
Californians coming to this state. The alternative to high-
speed rail is an estimated investment of more than $150
billion to build 4,300 new lanes of highway, more freeways
and hundreds of new airport gates and runways, covering
large swaths of the state with concrete and asphalt. The effect
on the environment — water and air quality, open space, food
supply, noise and climate — would be substantial.
PHOTOS: Is Gov. Jerry Brown saving California or
ruining it?
Although we should preserve our highway system to meet
some of this demand, we also need opportunities for
travelers to shift from petroleum-based fuels to biofuels,
electric vehicles and public transit. This cannot happen
unless we modernize and expand California's rail system —
including high-speed rail and regional, urban and commuter
rail.
Europe's experience with high-speed rail is illustrative. After
high-speed rail launched in Europe, air trips were cut in half
from Paris to London. In Spain, the impact was even more
dramatic. For the 315-mile trip from Barcelona to Madrid,
more than 60% of air travelers have switched to the 21/2-
hour rail ride. Closer to home, Angelenos living near the
Metro Expo Line tripled their public transit ridership and
reduced daily driving 40% after light rail opened.
High-speed rail has the same potential to change the way
people travel in California. By 2040, it could reduce car
miles traveled in the state by 3.6 billion miles a year, the
equivalent of taking 317,000 cars off the road daily. And by
2020, the project is estimated to eliminate between 278,000
and 674,000 net metric tons of greenhouse gases from
voluntary emissions reductions, electrification of local rail
and other efforts. High-speed rail will be constructed with net-zero emissions and operate 100%
from renewable energy.
This statewide rail system would also give rise to transit and pedestrian-friendly development,
which, in turn, preserves Central Valley farmland. The city of Fresno, for example, has approved a
land-use plan that directs growth to infill and denser development in the city core, while barring
expansion into prime farmland on the city's outskirts. A key element of this downtown development
is the future high-speed rail station and its connection to transit.
California is on track to meet its 2020 emission reduction goals under AB 32, and we need
investments in rail modernization to help achieve long-term reductions beyond that date. Reducing
car travel, promoting infill and transit-oriented development, preserving farmland and open space,
and avoiding massive highway and airport expansions are all part of the high-speed rail project and
the vision for California transportation.
The project also serves as a catalyst for $50 million in the governor's current budget for
improvements and upgrades to local rail transit systems in Los Angeles and San Francisco as part of
the overall statewide system to improve mobility.
When it was finished in 1869, the transcontinental railroad cut the journey from the East Coast to
California from months to days, uniting the West and creating a new spirit of optimism. Through our
commitment to high-speed rail, we can repeat such a transformation and accomplish something that
hasn't been done in more than 100 years of transit: Unite California with a sustainable, statewide
Most Viewed Latest News
Ads by Google
VIDEO
Richie the Barber lovesclowns and tattoos
Brown's bullet train? It's goingnowhere with many Times readers
Don't scrap California's bullet train
for the Hy perloop -- y et
The hazy future of California's bullet
train
How to make high-speed rail work in
California
Ads by Google
Alzheimer's Trialclinlife.com/Alzheimer's_res…
New research study for
Alzheimer's Find out more here.
Photos of the Day More »
Obama will speed up plan to connect publicschools to the Internet 02/04/2014, 3:00 a.m.
Ducks' focus again is fuzzy in 4-2 home loss toColumbus 02/03/2014, 11:22 p.m.
Kings find some offense, but victory is stillelusive 02/03/2014, 11:12 p.m.
Randy Foye's last-second shot gives Clippers theheave-ho 02/03/2014, 11:05 p.m.
Lakers looking for draft help in a potential dealfor Pau Gasol 02/03/2014, 10:45 p.m.
2/4/2014 Taking California's bullet train to a greener future - latimes.com
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/commentary/la-oe-kelly-california-high-speed-rail-20140129,0,2395887.story#axzz2rzeJdO00 3/5
Comments 1 1 7 Email Share Tweet 76 10
Ads by Google
California Tax Revolthjta.org
Learn how Howard Jarvis and his tax revolt affectyour CA taxes.
Schembri Engineers, Inc.www.peinspect.com
Structural Inspection Engineers Foundation &Structural Inspections
transportation system.
Brian P. Kelly is California's secretary of transportation; Mary D. Nichols is chairman of the
California Air Resources Board.
Copy r ig h t © 2 01 4 , Los A n g eles Tim es
172
MORE FROM THE TIMES
Philip Seymour Hoffman dead: Theater worldrecalls a 'great light'
Secret Oakland Raider cheerleaders' handbookpatronizes, demeans
George Clooney puts Tina Fey on notice afterGolden Globes joke
Lena Dunham, keep your clothes off: Why thenudity on 'Girls' is a revolutionary act
Seth MacFarlane's 'Million Ways to Die in theWest' red-band trailer
FROM AROUND THE WEB by TaboolaSponsored Content
Warren Buffett’s Secret
to Wealth — the Bible?
Moneynew s
Infographic: This Chart
Predicts A Collapse
Money Morning
Millennials are Drinking
so Much Wine They 're
Changing How it's Sold
The Huff ington Post
How to prioritize y our
debts
Better Money Habits
Philip Seymour Hoffman autopsy …Los Angeles Times Feb 3, 2014
Ecuador's
Tungurahua volcano
Fall Out Boy Super
Bowl Interview
Philip Seymour
Hoffman autopsy set
Woody Allen denies
Dylan Farrow'…
96Like