Posted by R. Gordon, a resident of another community, on Apr 11, 2012 at 1:10 pm

It is all incessant double talk and mostly gripes from the "old guard" who predominate the state yet it is thought of as an important and necessary move to start construction among most Californians and Americans if you talk to THEM.

At this point, nobody seems to do anything but blame the President for the way this country was in a deep hole when he enterred office and most people think they can go on like our past dictated most of the fortunes and way of life that befell the "Republican way of making it big"....those days are gone forever, even after Romney is long gone after spending to get office.Disgusting.

LAST VERIFICATION CODE WAS WITNESSED AS CORRECT. BLOCKING MY CODE IS NOT PROPER.FILMED.

This is a totally different world that demands sacrifices and not just toys like gas eaters, the lack of attention to our environement,

and the increasing debt caused by inactivity of jobless workers.

Those who live in the past are not only the minority, but the backers of leaders who warrant no respect.

Those people who are part of the 80,000 new organic farms across the country are the people to admire and realize they cannot afford to pay for food to live.The answer is JOBS.Not Wall St.

Posted by Martin Engel, a resident of the Menlo Park: Park Forest neighborhood, on Apr 11, 2012 at 1:31 pm

Let's be clear here: if you support the "blended system," you are supporting high-speed rail on the Caltrain corridor. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Furthermore, you are supporting high-speed rail in California. Upgrading Caltrain this way with electrification (with no conditions) is bringing HSR to the corridor. That's their MOU deal.

The reason the "blended system: was offered to us was not a compromise between what HSR intends to build (four track; elevated viaducts) and an at-grade two track corridor. It was offered because there aren't any funds to build anything beyond the "blended system."

We don't actually even know what all the requirements will be for "blended system" beyond electrification.

Therefore, "blended system" becomes a sneaky way to bring HSR on board without sufficient funds to build what both Caltrain and HSR want; that is, four tracks. Do not be fooled by Caltrain's "flip-flopping." Their strategic plans have called for four tracks for a very long time, along with electrification. They haven't changed their minds; just their tune.

If there ever are sufficient funds to actually build this HSR system, among the first things that will happen are the expansion of the Caltrain corridor to four tracks. The elevated viaducts are the least expensive way to solve the grade separation problem.

In Atherton, Menlo Park and Palo Alto there are 10, relatively close together, street crossings. Running an elevated structure over them solves the separation problem. It would be far more expensive to dig underneath the at-grade four track corridor for each street.

Menlo Park City Council is being had. They are "accommodationists." They want it both ways. They have imbibed of the Kool-Aid offered by both HSR and the Caltrain Consigliore.

Sorry, both ways, electrification and no HSR, is not on the table. What is available, whether you want it or not, is high-speed rail on the corridor coming along with electrification, paid for either by Prop. 1A or not.

Electrification advocacy is a "red herring."

It, in fact, won't fix anything, except the pride in fancier train sets by Caltrain and a future with HSR paying for four tracks and grade separations.

Posted by R.GORDON, a resident of another community, on Apr 12, 2012 at 10:02 am

I am not impressed by your lengthy non explanation of how money is raised for useless endeavors and from where it come from.

The War explains it all. It was a joke that killed hundreds of thousands of people and was totally illegal and never discussed by those who object so ferociously against spending.Even our former President Bush has made one statement since he has been in figurative hiding.He has some trillions to help explain along with those who profited from the concept of "war is good for the economy".

The money will come. The HSR will be running.You will be one of the first people to ride a bullet train to Los Angeles---that is, if you are not too old or infirm to confirm that America is definitely left in the dust when it comes to stepping into the future.

You are not really worried about the money....or the survival of the veterans. You just do not want your area made untidy for a while.