We've managed to go a full month without a high-cost rail posting, but the recent Federal government announcement has to serve as a wake-up call that indeed this boondoggle is really happening.  The most common reaction I get from people these days is "it's not really going to happen, is it?"  When they look at the fiscal problems in the state, it's hard to believe that we will drop $100 billion on this, but…..

The federal government on Wednesday approved the start of construction for California's $69 billion high-speed rail line, capping years of planning on the first leg of tracks in the Central Valley and likely kicking off a new round of lawsuits from opponents.

The state has been eagerly awaiting the Federal Railroad Administration's endorsement of the Merced-to-Fresno section of the bullet train line since Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature gave the go-ahead two months ago.

Even with the polls showing declining support this thing keeps chugging along.  Last weekend, I was part of a long interview with Fox News from L.A. that is investigating several aspects of the project–not least of which is the long term financial viability.  Some local experts have nailed it with this report