City Makers: American Futures
The people, organizations, and ideas reshaping the country. A journey piloted by James Fallows with Deborah Fallows.
Transportation
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UC Davis and Esri Talking With Dan Richard About High-Speed Rail
The chairman of California's costly and controversial infrastructure project explains why (in his view) it actually will get built—and whether its champion, 77-year-old Governor Jerry Brown, is likely to be able to take a ride.
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Calisphere California High-Speed Rail: The Collector's Edition
An index to the arguments pro and con about the most ambitious infrastructure project in the United States
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Wikimedia California High-Speed Rail: A Minor End, an Important Beginning
Who should get the benefit of the doubt when we consider the unknowable future?
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Esri and UC Davis That Winning Bid for California's High-Speed Rail: Is It Suspiciously Low?
"No one should have the illusion that this phase is going to be completed for $1.2 billion. This is a political number." So says a critic of the surprisingly low successful bid. The rail system's chairman begs to differ.
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Wikimedia California High-Speed Rail: It's Happening
Three weeks from now, a groundbreaking ceremony on the most important infrastructure project now underway in the United States
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BikePGH How Political Leadership Makes City Streets Bikeable
Pittsburgh's Mayor Bill Peduto shows what political will and determination can do.
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Wikimedia commons Why You Shouldn't Get Your Hopes Up for the Self-Driving Car (California High-Speed Rail No. 14)
"Would you prefer a system where you can be instantly teleported from SF to LA? Of course. But that doesn't mean it's going to happen."
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Shanghai maglev authority California High-Speed Rail Lucky No. 13: Let's Look at Maglev and Other Alternatives
"Should we invest in infrastructure? Absolutely! But the right kind of infrastructure." Some ideas on what that might mean.
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Wikimedia Commons All Aboard for the California High-Speed Rail Chronicles!
In next month's election, Jerry Brown is seeking a fourth term as California's governor and public support for his plan for a north-south bullet train to transform travel in a car-dependent state. Here is more of what's at stake.
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Calisphere California High-Speed Rail No. 11: Thinking in Time
Everybody talks about the future, but nobody does anything about it.
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Calisphere California High-Speed Rail No. 10: Palate Cleanser
"The decision on HSR is going to shape the future in ways we can’t predict, and a touch of modesty in the arguments would be welcome."
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Marin County Library, via Calisphere California High-Speed Rail No. 9—the Chairman's Turn Again
You want to hear more about the biggest infrastructure project being considered anywhere in the country? You've come to the right place.
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Calisphere California High-Speed Rail—More Questions and Concerns
"Bad, bad, bad," and other critiques
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AP The Courts Speak Up for California High-Speed Rail
And so do some readers.
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James Fallows California High-Speed Rail: Some Views From the Valley
People in Los Angeles and San Francisco often say that the initial links in a proposed north-south system would be "trains to nowhere." People from nowhere weigh in.
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UC Davis and Esri California High-Speed Rail: 10 Readers With 10 Views
A solution looking for a problem? A genuine leap forward? The best we can expect from messy political half-measures? Or something truly brave? Take your pick.
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California Digital Library 7 Ways in Which High-Speed Rail Would Help California, According to Its Chairman
For your reference, a detailed pro-and-con about the most ambitious current attempt to change America's transportation infrastructure
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UC Davis and Esri California High-Speed Rail No. 3: Let's Hear From the Chairman
It's time for broader national attention to the most expensive and ambitious infrastructure proposal in America today.
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St. Louis Public Library California High-Speed Rail—the Critics' Case
Every big infrastructure project is controversial. Most of them work out better than critics contend early on. But maybe the critics are right about high-speed rail. Let's hear what they say.
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Wikimedia Commons The California High-Speed Rail Debate—Kicking Things Off
The Erie Canal. The transcontinental railroad. The Interstate Highway system. Big, expensive, controversial—and indispensable. Is the next one in this series a new rail network in our most famously freeway-centric state?
