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Post by andert on Aug 10, 2021 9:06:15 GMT -8
I can only assume that if this all goes through, and if that new money is available for capital projects, that Metro will start furiously finishing NEPA reviews on everything in the pipeline?
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Post by numble on Aug 10, 2021 10:26:33 GMT -8
I can only assume that if this all goes through, and if that new money is available for capital projects, that Metro will start furiously finishing NEPA reviews on everything in the pipeline? The wheels at Metro turn very slowly, but Metro probably still benefits since they had started putting so many things in the pipeline, and they can add back NEPA to some projects if they think it is now competitive for funding with more money sloshing around. I guess since these bills are funding divided over multiple years, there isn't too much of a rush to accelerate things beyond their current pipeline. There is some logic to not having all the EIRs finished at the same time, so the projects it is competing with for grants in that year are not other LA Metro projects.
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Post by andert on Aug 10, 2021 12:03:09 GMT -8
I can only assume that if this all goes through, and if that new money is available for capital projects, that Metro will start furiously finishing NEPA reviews on everything in the pipeline? The wheels at Metro turn very slowly, but Metro probably still benefits since they had started putting so many things in the pipeline, and they can add back NEPA to some projects if they think it is now competitive for funding with more money sloshing around. I guess since these bills are funding divided over multiple years, there isn't too much of a rush to accelerate things beyond their current pipeline. There is some logic to not having all the EIRs finished at the same time, so the projects it is competing with for grants in that year are not other LA Metro projects. Yeah the assumption I draw in the video is that the WSAB, Sepulveda, Inglewood APM, and Surfliner, and maybe LinkUS phase B will be the biggest winners among major projects of this round of federal and state funding (with potential EIFD and PPP contributions here and there to boot) - and the montclair extension, centinela separation will probably get a chunk of state money to cover their shortfalls without requiring NEPA. I feel like the eastside gold line extension and washington/flower could now maybe benefit in the short term by finishing NEPA asap, if there's a lot more funds from the reconciliation bill... but I imagine after this first round of projects Metro will shift focus to completing NEPA and getting federal funds for Sepulveda Phase 2, WSAB phase 2 (and maybe 3 if it's in 3 phases), vermont subway, and crenshaw north, maybe 3-5 years down the line. I feel like the torrance extension, depsite being a 'pillar project' for some reason, will skip trying for federal funds because it just won't be competitive.
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Post by andert on Aug 11, 2021 7:06:56 GMT -8
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Post by andert on Aug 12, 2021 12:59:35 GMT -8
Hmm I fear i may have oversold surfliner electrification. It's been pointed out to me that while the tunnel and straightening work *is* something amtrak wants to do, apparently the electrification was a push by San Diego government (who *do* want the infrastructure bill to cover it and were highlighted by the LA Times as pushing for it), but it hasn't actually been adopted by the overseeing authorities - who seem to think, as of 2018, that electrifying LOSSAN south of anaheim could be wasted money as CAHSR via the IE will be the preferred express route to SD at some (diiiistant) point in the future. Hopefully this attitude changes and they do take up electrification as a goal, especially since it seems like they could actually get the money.
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Post by culvercitylocke on Aug 12, 2021 14:30:22 GMT -8
Hmm I fear i may have oversold surfliner electrification. It's been pointed out to me that while the tunnel and straightening work *is* something amtrak wants to do, apparently the electrification was a push by San Diego government (who *do* want the infrastructure bill to cover it and were highlighted by the LA Times as pushing for it), but it hasn't actually been adopted by the overseeing authorities - who seem to think, as of 2018, that electrifying LOSSAN south of anaheim could be wasted money as CAHSR via the IE will be the preferred express route to SD at some (diiiistant) point in the future. Hopefully this attitude changes and they do take up electrification as a goal, especially since it seems like they could actually get the money. nooooo! how could they be so incredibly stupid? There isn't even a viable phase 2 of the CAHSR and electrification of the surfliner NOW, instead of 80 years from now has benefits NOW. holy shit. what an unbelievable waste.
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Post by andert on Aug 12, 2021 14:48:08 GMT -8
Hmm I fear i may have oversold surfliner electrification. It's been pointed out to me that while the tunnel and straightening work *is* something amtrak wants to do, apparently the electrification was a push by San Diego government (who *do* want the infrastructure bill to cover it and were highlighted by the LA Times as pushing for it), but it hasn't actually been adopted by the overseeing authorities - who seem to think, as of 2018, that electrifying LOSSAN south of anaheim could be wasted money as CAHSR via the IE will be the preferred express route to SD at some (diiiistant) point in the future. Hopefully this attitude changes and they do take up electrification as a goal, especially since it seems like they could actually get the money. nooooo! how could they be so incredibly stupid? There isn't even a viable phase 2 of the CAHSR and electrification of the surfliner NOW, instead of 80 years from now has benefits NOW. holy shit. what an unbelievable waste. San Diego is pushing, probably with this exact argument, so we can hope it gains some traction. It sounds like from what someone pointed out on twitter that the primary source of opposition is (sigh) homeowners along the LOSSAN south route who think that the electrical lines will be... 'unsightly.' So. That's fun.
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