SD

[rober...@aol.com]

High-speed rail, magnetic levitation and “personal rapid transit” are some of the alternative transit systems that will be explored at Design Innovative Institute’s (Dii) High Speed Transit Forum Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. at Point Loma Nazarene University’s 1,800-seat Brown Chapel. The aim of the forum is to bring together students, public and private sector leaders and the general public interested in recent federal and state endorsements of high-speed transit alternatives. California has put in a bid for $4.7 billion in federal stimulus funding for design, engineering and construction of the state’s high-speed train system — an investment that would balloon to $10 billion when state, local and matching funds are added.
Gov. Schwarzenegger, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders have been invited to speak at the forum. Panelists will include Alan Gin, economics professor at San Diego State; American Magline Group principal M. Neil Cummings; urban designer Rich Flierl; transportation designer James McJunkin; Transit Hub project manager Eric Anderson and California transportation leader Sarah Catz.
“California is now moving forward to be the leader in the nation and the world in high speed transit,” said Calvin Woo, co-founder of Dii and president of CWA Inc., a brand consulting and environmental design company.
General admission tickets are $10. For additional information or to purchase tickets visit www.DesignInnovationInstitute.org or call               (619) 299-0433         (619) 299-0433, Ext. 13. Point Loma Nazarene University’s Brown Chapel is 3900 Lomaland Drive, San Diego.

[Dennis Manning]

Robert:

 

Do you know to what extent Sandor Shapery is involved in this SD forum?

 

In this dance about how $8b in stimulus money will be distributed I'll venture a guess that between the administration's goals of quick job creation versus the vision supporting high speed rail is that quick jobs will prevail. The $8b will be spread thinly across the various demands now totaling around $100b. California won't get anywhere near the $4.7b they are asking for. What California will be offered is support from the $500b +/- in the next Fed authorization. That will be a dog fight in and of itself.

 

The whole thing is being played out on the political stage. It doesn't have anything to do with a cold rational analysis of the benefits for California citizens. Contractors stand to make billions on the system even if overall the system turns into one of massive subsidies to keep it running. 

 

Dennis

[Jack Slade]

Additionally, is there somebody going to speak for PRT or any other new systems?   Jack Slade --- On Sat, 11/7/09, Dennis Manning <john.m...@comcast.net> wrote:

General admission tickets are $10. For additional information or to purchase tickets visit www.DesignInnovationInstitute.org or call                     (619) 299-0433           (619) 299-0433 , Ext. 13. Point Loma Nazarene University’s Brown Chapel is 3900 Lomaland Drive, San Diego.

[rober...@aol.com]

No, I just ran across the item and posted it. Figured Walt might want to go and give a report. 

[Walter Brewer]

I'll be in SD Thanksgiving week, but don't want to make two 2,500 mile trips.

 

You, Kirston, Dave, Jerry'(R&S), Frank R, etc, etc, are closer. I'd think the longer range versions of PRT would be most appropriate to discuss.

 

Shapery at least is aware of fractionated HSR which would work well for SD to/from LA. Very high speed individual, or small GRT vehicles able to get travelers to area-based destinations in the large diverse region. Cars dominate now, even for 100 or so miles.

Also service LAX direct in the process because current HSD plans do not. Dennis may know odfa Shapery comment?

 

 Walt Brewer

[rober...@aol.com]

I thought you were in SD Walt.  I guess you could take the Maglev if they can get it built by Thursday.

Robert

[Walter Brewer]

Didn't realize there is an airline named Maglev?

 

A modest reason wife and I no longer live there is the mismanaged, congestion generating transportation. But as for a step forward for new concepts at this conference my polecat at the mass transit obsessed picnic would not be positive.

[Jerry Schneider]

At 10:57 PM 11/6/2009, you wrote:
>Robert:
>
>Do you know to what extent Sandor Shapery is involved in this SD forum?
>
>In this dance about how $8b in stimulus money will be distributed
>I'll venture a guess that between the administration's goals of
>quick job creation versus the vision supporting high speed rail is
>that quick jobs will prevail. The $8b will be spread thinly across
>the various demands now totaling around $100b. California won't get
>anywhere near the $4.7b they are asking for. What California will be
>offered is support from the $500b +/- in the next Fed authorization.
>That will be a dog fight in and of itself.
>
>The whole thing is being played out on the political stage. It
>doesn't have anything to do with a cold rational analysis of the
>benefits for California citizens. Contractors stand to make billions
>on the system even if overall the system turns into one of massive
>subsidies to keep it running.

If the rail technology has to be imported, I wonder if a domestic
work force would benefit from the construction and maintenance of the
HSR project. My guess is that substantial parts of the workforce
would have to be imported as well. It's a little like health care
reform - where would the docs and nurses come from to take on the
increased workload if the uninsured get insured?

[rober...@aol.com]

I met Shapery a couple years ago.  He may be tied to the GA system but it is not functional compared to Transrapid but GA is involved with Transrapid on the LA to LV proposal. So it is all a little bit cloudy in California. Under the stimulus funds only states or Amtrak can recieve funds so I would not expect anybody in CA other than the CHSRA to be eligable and they made their technology choice 10 years ago. 

I am not so sure they will spread out the funds, Szabo knows he has one shot to get it right so I would watch  Chicago to ST Louis, Florida and California to win.  8 billion won't go as far as it used to.  We should set up a pool and take bets.

rp

-----Original Message-----
From: Jerry Schneider <j...@peak.org>
To: transport-...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Sat, Nov 7, 2009 11:04 am
Subject: [t-i] Re: SD

At 10:57 PM 11/6/2009, you wrote:
>Robert:
>
>Do you know to what extent Sandor Shapery is involved in this SD forum?
>
>In this dance about how $8b in stimulus money will be distributed 
>I'll venture a guess that between the administration's goals of 
>quick job creation versus the vision supporting high speed rail is 
>that quick jobs will prevail. The $8b will be spread thinly across 
>the various demands now totaling around $100b. California won't get 
>anywhere near the $4.7b they are asking for. What California will be 
>offered is support from the $500b +/- in the next Fed authorization. 
>That will be a dog fight in and of itself.
>
>The whole thing is being played out on the political stage. It 
>doesn't have anything to do with a cold rational analysis of the 
>benefits for California citizens. Contractors stand to make billions 
>on the system even if overall the system turns into one of massive 
>subsidies to keep it running.

If the rail technology has to be imported, I wonder if a domestic 
work force would benefit from the construction and maintenance of the 
HSR project. My guess is that substantial parts of the workforce 
would have to be imported as well. It's a  little like health care 
reform - where would the docs and nurses come from to take on the 
increased workload if the uninsured get insured?

[Dennis Manning]

I've written about it before but what's needed rather than big trains maglev or steel wheel are high speed GRT maglevs with passive switching. It would allow a system that would be as fast as the energy tradeoff would allow, cost far less, allow the best alignments, and have 100 times better access. I don't understand why magnemotion doesn't put it together. They seem to have all the pieces.

 

Dennis

----- Original Message -----

From: rober...@aol.com

To: transport-...@googlegroups.com

[Walter Brewer]

Two to three years ago he was very active promoting HSR. Partly triggered I think then by prospects for travel to the new airport 50+ miles east in the desert. That promted interest in a dedicated SD to LA route.

The airport fizzled. HSR SD to LA has become just a slightly faster intercity rail with numerous stops.

Suggestion about innovations from at least Dennis and me have not drawn response.

 

 Walt Brewer

----- Original Message -----

From: rober...@aol.com

To: transport-...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Saturday, November 07, 2009 6:50 PM

Subject: [t-i] Re: SD

[Walter Brewer]

I assume in the SD to/from LA case you mean switch to multipul stations in both regions? Also direct non-stop to LAX as an option?

 

 Walt Brewer

[Dennis Manning]

Walt:

 

Exactly. Instead of a few stations you could have dozens, and most trips would be non-stop. In fact for that trip length PRT size vehicles might pencil out better than GRT leading to a mega size PRT network for the region, but that's a ways off. A lot of hands on experience operating PRT is needed before that is doable.

[Kirston Henderson]

on 11/7/09 7:53 AM, Walter Brewer at catc...@verizon.net wrote:

I'll be in SD Thanksgiving week, but don't want to make two 2,500 mile trips.

You, Kirston, Dave, Jerry'(R&S), Frank R, etc, etc, are closer. I'd think the longer range versions of PRT would be most appropriate to discuss.

Walt,

   I'd like to meet you, but SD is a long way from Fort Worth and I don't think that I can make it.

Kirston

[Jay Andress]

Gee Dennis you almost said dual mode!!!!

 

                                     Jay