https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2021/04/02/the-neverending-project-ca-hsr-and-the-boondoggle-that-couldnt/ In-depth, locally-produced coverage of the Central Valley. Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:23:09 -0700 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2021/04/02/the-neverending-project-ca-hsr-and-the-boondoggle-that-couldnt/#comment-100274 DIANE THOMPSON Wed, 14 Apr 2021 15:21:16 +0000 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=35551#comment-100274 The promise of this rail has caused people to put all their eggs in one basket, especially in regards to real estate. The people that have lived in this valley for over 25 years and have aspired to continue living here cannot afford the prices in the housing market. I get it, those that work in other more profitable counties can afford to pay these prices because they are a third of what they are used to paying. So the promise of a rail that gets them back and forth to work in record time gives them cause to buy in the valley. What happens when this rail fails? Tulare county cannot afford to put all their eggs in that basket. Real estate prices have skyrocketed to a point that long term residence of Tulare county cannot afford to buy a home. I have lived in Tulare county for over 25 years. I have worked hard as a single mom to save money and improve my credit so that I can buy my first home. A 225,000 dollar home will cost me 1500 a month. That is more than half of my income. The homes that are selling for less than 250,000 need so many repairs that it is not a financially sound investment to spend over half my income on a house payment when the home needs extensive repairs. It seems as though the housing market is banking on all these high dollar people moving into the valley because that high speed rail is going to make the commute so much easier for them. In the meantime, I am having to find a home in another county and that is going to cause me a long commute everyday, not to mention my son will have to change schools. I realize this is just my opinion and it probably doesn't matter to "the powers that be" but I love living in Tulare. I want to stay here. This is where I raised my kids and where my roots are. It breaks my heart that this housing market is making me have to pull up roots and move to another county or I just have to give up my dream of owning my own home in the town that I love. The promise of this rail has caused people to put all their eggs in one basket, especially in regards to real estate. The people that have lived in this valley for over 25 years and have aspired to continue living here cannot afford the prices in the housing market. I get it, those that work in other more profitable counties can afford to pay these prices because they are a third of what they are used to paying. So the promise of a rail that gets them back and forth to work in record time gives them cause to buy in the valley. What happens when this rail fails? Tulare county cannot afford to put all their eggs in that basket. Real estate prices have skyrocketed to a point that long term residence of Tulare county cannot afford to buy a home. I have lived in Tulare county for over 25 years. I have worked hard as a single mom to save money and improve my credit so that I can buy my first home. A 225,000 dollar home will cost me 1500 a month. That is more than half of my income. The homes that are selling for less than 250,000 need so many repairs that it is not a financially sound investment to spend over half my income on a house payment when the home needs extensive repairs. It seems as though the housing market is banking on all these high dollar people moving into the valley because that high speed rail is going to make the commute so much easier for them. In the meantime, I am having to find a home in another county and that is going to cause me a long commute everyday, not to mention my son will have to change schools.
I realize this is just my opinion and it probably doesn’t matter to “the powers that be” but I love living in Tulare. I want to stay here. This is where I raised my kids and where my roots are. It breaks my heart that this housing market is making me have to pull up roots and move to another county or I just have to give up my dream of owning my own home in the town that I love.

]]> https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2021/04/02/the-neverending-project-ca-hsr-and-the-boondoggle-that-couldnt/#comment-100167 DHT Fri, 09 Apr 2021 16:31:18 +0000 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=35551#comment-100167 The nitwits are now in charge. In NM, Gov. Bill Richardson sold our state a bill of goods, promising a 60 mile "Rail Runner" project would cost $125 million, *only* $2M/mile. Once completed, it actually cost $500M, $8M/mile and now requires a subsidy of $9 per person per trip, a drive of 60 miles taking less than an hour and less than 2 gallons of gas. These projects are fantasies. The nitwits are now in charge. In NM, Gov. Bill Richardson sold our state a bill of goods, promising a 60 mile “Rail Runner” project would cost $125 million, *only* $2M/mile. Once completed, it actually cost $500M, $8M/mile and now requires a subsidy of $9 per person per trip, a drive of 60 miles taking less than an hour and less than 2 gallons of gas. These projects are fantasies.

]]> https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2021/04/02/the-neverending-project-ca-hsr-and-the-boondoggle-that-couldnt/#comment-99856 NFA Fri, 02 Apr 2021 13:38:52 +0000 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=35551#comment-99856 Thankfully you're not in charge. Thankfully you’re not in charge.

]]>