California’s Infrastructure Priorities Are for the Cars

Of course the High Speed Rail Program made the Governor's list. But only one other transit project is as important as cars. Photo: NPR
Of course the High Speed Rail Program made the Governor's list. But only one other transit project is as important as cars. Photo: NPR

Governor Jerry Brown delivered a letter to President Trump today outlining priorities for transportation infrastructure spending in California.

The priorities are “pursuant to Executive Order 13766,” signed today, that aims to “streamline and expedite. . . environmental reviews and approvals for all infrastructure projects” and especially those projects that are “a high priority for the Nation.”

Governor Brown responded with this list of “high-priority infrastructure projects in need of expedited environmental review,” to wit:

  • a highway expansion
  • another highway expansion
  • demolishing a bridge
  • a streetcar
  • a highway expansion
  • a highway expansion
  • a highway expansion
  • a highway expansion
  • high-speed rail
  • the Oroville dam spillway

At least it’s consistent with the focus of the transportation funding bills currently being considered: more highways for cars, with a dollop of transit and one very urgent waterway.

Also, would it have hurt to add the electrification of Caltrain to the list, even though it has cleared its environmental hurdles already? Just to make a point.

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