essay 2

Mason Newstead
Pam Baker
English
10/13/08

California High Speed Train


On the ballot this year is a proposition to begin building a high speed train throughout California. The train will run from San Diego to San Francisco. It will have many positive affects on California. One affect of the high speed train being reducing traffic as well as CO2 emissions. Another is that the high speed train will provide extremely fast travel times at a low cost all throughout California. Driving from San Diego to Los Angeles usually takes about two to three hours by car, while the high speed train the trip would be around an hour and twenty minutes and would only cost thirty dollars. (High-Speed Train System). Another benefit of the train is that it will take many drivers off of the road. Not only will this relieve traffic congestion, but according to the official high speed train web site, it is predicted to “avoid over 10,000 auto accidents yearly with their attendant deaths, injuries and property damage when compared to exclusive reliance on highways” ( High-Speed Train System). This November voters will be able to vote to approve the high speed train. If approved, the state will provide about ten billion dollars to fund the project (High-Speed Train System). This money will partially cover the construction of the line from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The total cost for the project is estimated at around forty billion dollars, and the remaining thirty million is expected to come from federal funding as well as private partnerships. The construction process of the high speed train is expected to take about 12 years. During this time over 450,000 Californians will be provided with jobs (High-Speed Train System). Once created the high speed train will “generate $1 billion in annual profits.” ( High-Speed Train System). So it will really help boost our economy by providing thousands of Californians with jobs. The high speed train is perfect for the state of California because it resolves many of our traffic, economic, and environmental problems.

The high speed train is going to be great for the environment. California has always lead the way in fighting Global warming, preserving our natural resources, and conserving energy. The high speed train will address all of these. By having the high speed train thousands and thousands of cars will be off of the roads. When this happens it will reduce CO2 emissions by 12 billions pounds a year (High-Speed Train System). This would be a great thing to help prevent global warming. By taking so many cars off of the road, this is also helping to save one of our very precious, limited, and expensive natural resources...oil. California would save 1.65 billion dollars each year. The high speed train uses much less energy than cars and planes. The train uses about 1/3 of the energy of an airplane, and 1/5 the energy used by an automobile (High-Speed Train System). The high speed train is great for California from an environmental standpoint. It takes many cars off of the road which cuts down CO2 emissions and saves a large amount of gas. The train itself uses very minimal energy. The train is great for everybody. The train will relieve traffic, it is good for the environment, and it saves our natural resources.

Another benefit of the high speed train is the travel convenience. The train will be faster and cheaper in most cases. The drive from San Diego to San Francisco takes about 9 hours. On the high speed train it would take about 4 hours and would cost only 70 dollars (High-Speed Train System). So that means you could take the train to San Francisco hang out there for forty five minutes then take the train home, and you would have made it home before you would have even made it to San Francisco by car. It is hard to calculate the cost of driving to San Francisco because all cars have very different gas mileage. On a long drive like that you would stop for food multiple times, increasing the cost. Although it is hard to estimate, it would cost about 80 dollars to drive to San Francisco. If you were to fly it would cost around 100 to 150 dollars. The flight itself would take about an hour and a half. But the process of flying on an airplane takes a lot longer than the flight itself. After going through security, checking bags, finding bags, another hour has easily been added on to the trip. So you have three options. Spend 100-150 dollars to go on an airplane that will altogether take you about two to three hours. Spend 80 dollars on gas and food on a 9 hour car ride. Or spend 70 dollars to be on a train that will get you to San Francisco in only four hours. The high speed train is the perfect solution for all commuters. It is cheap, easy, and faster than any other means of transportation other than flying.

Another great thing about the high speed train is that it will really help California's economy in a variety of ways. Firstly, the construction process will require mass numbers of laborers, architects, engineers, etc. The construction of the high speed train will take around twelve years. Over the course of these twelve years the High Speed Train Foundation predicts 450,000 jobs will be provided to Californians (High-Speed Train System). This will be really great for our economy. Thousands and thousands of people having a stable job for at least twelve years. Another way that the high speed train will be great for the economy is because it will be a tourist attraction. People will come from all over the country to ride the high speed train. They will each pay at least 30 dollars just to ride the train. Then even more money on food, and on souvenirs. Money will just be flowing in from out of state because of the train. It will also be good for our economy because the train will be used by thousands of Californian's each day. The Foundation expects to transport well over 150,000 passengers each day (High-Speed Train System). Each of these passengers will be spending a minimum of 30 dollars per ticket. So at the very least, the high speed train will bring in almost five million dollars each day. It is predicted to make about one billion dollars in profit each year (High-Speed Train System).The train is predicted to carry “up to 117 million passengers annually by 2030, with the capacity to also carry high-value, lightweight freight.” (High-Speed Train System). All of this money will be enriching California's economy, making our state richer and more stable.

Although the High Speed Train has may benefits it is understandable for Californians to be reluctant to vote for the high speed train. 10 billion of their own taxed dollars is a lot to spend on a train. Although 10 billion dollars is a large amount of money, it is small compared to the amount of money that would be spent on improving transportation if the train is not built. To support the growing number of people in the state, California would end up spending around 80 billion dollars on making transportation able to support more people. This 80 billion dollars would be spent on widening the freeways, widening the airport runways, and expanding all airports (High-Speed Train System). So although Californians are reluctant to vote on something that will be spending 10 billion dollars. They should be thankful that it is saving them from having to spend 80 billion later.

The High speed train is a win win for California. It effects so many different things that need to be worked on in our state in a positive way. We need to work on ending global warming, The high speed train does that. We need to reduce our massive traffic problems throughout the state, The high speed train does that. We need to provide Californian's with more jobs, The high speed train does that. We need to strengthen our economy, The high speed train does that. It is great all around. California has a very bright future with the high speed train. By 2020 you can live in San Diego and be able to go on a day trip to San Francisco and pay less than 100 dollars. You can live in Los Angeles and take the train down to San Diego after work to see a show and come home that night. In 2020 we will have a magnificent train that runs all throughout California. This train will be unlike anything that Californians have ever Dreamed of. The high speed train will be just one more thing that makes this state so great. A train that boosts the economy, fights global warming, and provides an excellent service to this great state. This dream will become a reality if Californians can see the amazing benefits that the high speed train has to offer while they cast their vote this November.