A less-disruptive route for high-speed rail
When my wife and I visited Germany three years ago, we took a trip on a high-speed train, which went at least 182 mph. The seating was as comfortable as first class in a modern jet. The trip was smooth, quiet and pleasant. The cattle in the fields we whizzed by never looked at the train or gave any indication that we were there. We traveled from Cologne to Frankfurt -- 110 miles -- in about one hour and 10 minutes. California needs to fast-forward a system like this.
But what I cannot understand is why Union Avenue and Highway 204 was not chosen as the best route through Bakersfield. This route does not disrupt any large facilities, such as Bakersfield High School and Mercy Hospital. The disruption to family neighborhoods would be smaller and this route would be cheaper and easier to build than the current two proposed routes. The rails in and out of Bakersfield would be straight and level, paralleling the existing railroad tracks to the east and Highway 99 north. Flyovers would be minimal. Plus, there is room for the long, sweeping turns of express lines.
A station on this route would be close to the new federal courthouse and a short shuttle-service drive from the Amtrak station. Clearly, this is the least expensive and disruptive route, and I do not understand why this is not an option.
EVAN C. BELL
Bakersfield
