This rail should be going to the airport and not downtown IMHO

What is the ROI on this project?? Or has anyone even bothered to figure it out??

Definite economic boost overall. However, local value will depend largely on intermodality of transit. We've needed an intermodal transit center for some time andmaybe this project can make it happen. It would provide a single place from which you could catch HSR, Amtrak, local buses, county transit buses, and air transportation either directly or via shuttle. The devil is in the details, as always.

The hi-speed rail will be great for California. It will improve commerce and lessen traffic on Hwy 5 and 99. As to Bakersfield , I think it will be a determent, as more and more of the young and educated head to the big cities for opportunities. That will leave the local elderly, the LA retired elderly and the trailer park folks behind.  There was an article in the Bako news to this effect some time back. Build a wall instead. Don't let them leave.

I'm certainly no expert on high-speed rail. But here's some thoughts on the comments so far:

krcgump -- I don't see much advantage to locating the HSR terminal at the airport. If someone arrives here via bullet train from Sacramento, the Bay Area, or Southern California, why would they then transfer to a plane? And if they arrive here by plane, the reverse question applies.

ronmexico -- What's the projected return on investment? Good question. I'll see what I can find on that.

hpver -- I can't argue with that. I'm sure bus, slower Amtrak service, county transit and taxi services will be all over this.

mannyb1 -- Will Bakersfield become a bedroom community for Los Angeles when it takes less than an hour to commute? Probably. That means our growth will accelerate, which is good for local businesses and developers, but problematic for future congestion, pollution and sprawl (which paves over prime farmland). It will change our demographics and possibly our political mix as well.

It's unlikley that anyone over 50 years of age will live to see the High Speed Rail Project anyway. They haven't even worked out any deals with Union Pacific to utilize their right of way over the Tehachapis yet. The mountain will have to be double tracked and electrified. I wager the freeway "loop" around Bakersfield will get done first. Maybe I'll get to take my hover-round on it and to the train station!

Return on investment is estimated to be 450,000 new jobs to start out with. Imagine what that does for the economy. If you want evidence of viability, look at Amtrak California's success with its corridor trains. Do you wonder why  Amtrak California has survived monumental budget cuts? Its becuase it is a business model for the REST OF THE NATION.  The San Joaquin Corridor is so successful, it requires reservations. While I cannot provide specific numbers ron on ROI, I can tell you that viability has been determined and, as we see in the Northeast, the technology is available and MARKET TESTED. 

Although I find very few people in the valley look at the environment as a cost/benefit consideration, HSR is a slam dunk project when it comes to environmental cost/benefit. Relieving traffic on our interstate and highways is a common sense way of fighting valley air pollution while creating jobs and preserving farmland. Think about it: railroad tracks take up less real estate than roads do. There are political catches for conservatives and liberals on the project.

Some of the funniest aspects of the story (unintentionally funny) are the digital "artist renderings" showing the Jetson-like rail system as it may someday look in Bakersfield. The Bako sky is imbued with a deeper blue than I've ever seen, and the Kern River in one image appears to be filled bank-to-bank with WATER.

Now that would REALLY be something if high-speed trains could somehow bring water to our riverbed.

mannyb, one thing that will keep the young in town, even with availability of transportation, is money. Although one would hope the economy has improved by the time the high-speed rail becomes reality, for the time being, some of our local bright kids just can't afford to leave town.

Smayer....My thoughts on this is the fact that you will have to slow to a crawl to get into town and parking downtown is limited at best, and some from LA may decide to take the rail to Bako and fly from here where if you ever have flown from both you know it is less hassle from Bako. I have some other thoughts on this too but these are my main ones, I think keeping all transportation together (transportation hub if you will) makes sense to me but I'm open to discuss any option, I just would like to see the high speed rail get going........also nice to see a blog that didn't turn into a race or left right debate......gump..out

krcgump -- All valid points. And I can't agree more with you about how refreshing it is to participate in a blog that's not about staking out partisan political positions.

Great job, everyone.

But of course-since HSR is part of Obama's Reinvestment Plan-if you disagree with HSR, you must be a.....JUST KIDDING!  CALL OFF THE LYNCH MOB!!

Observer-I'll tackle a few of these points which, by the way, are good points. 

1. I don't think anybody can argue that HSR should take priority over water projects-however, keep in mind that the high speed rail line is out of an entirely different honey pot. The pro and con of block grants is that it can only be spent on THAT SPECIFIC PROJECT. California voters decided that they wanted money set aside for this specific purpose when Prop 1a was passed. Without another Constitutional Amendment, that money can only be spent on that project. We saw what happened during the special election when voters were asked 'hey, can we borrow (or steal) from Peter to Pay Paul?' They said 'h#ll no!

2. Its true that Franciscans don't need a link to Angelinos with technology being what it is, but what about Valley dwellers? While there will be problems connected with the influx of PEOPLE into the valley, lets consider the influx of money coming into the valley. I'm sure the increase in property taxes from homes and sales taxes from increased retail will pay for infrastructure improvement-which, by the way, will mean even MORE jobs and an even bigger income tax base.

3. At some point since 1950, LAX fathered Ontario, Burbank, Santa Ana (John Wayne), and Long Beach Airports-all significant commercial hubs. Constructing a megal International airport in Palmdale has become unnecessary-especially since the current age of discount airlines which require smaller airfields and have quicker turnarounds. I have to say comparing this HSR concept with that one is a poor comparison. Its like saying 'why have Greyhound when nobody rides the city bus'.

4. What do you have to say about the benefits I've stated previously? The jobs? the valley's air quality? The fact that it is market tested technology?  The increased tax base in the valley? I have to say, I hear the concerns of the nay sayers, but the benefits far outweigh the costs.