Sometimes you get a good up-close view from someone who far away. I like to pick up the pretty pink Financial Times out of London for a distant view. You can buy it at Safeway at the customer service counter since we don't have a "newsstand" shop on the Avenew anymore. I miss that corner cigar newsstand stand. But I digress. Thursday's FT carried an editorial about the U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's slow change of heart on various issues as he faces a tough re-election campaign next year. Funny how the thought of losing one's job can focus the mind. Among the smart things PM Sunak is doing to survive is kill the high-cost rail project that was to service the north of California England. Here is the quote:
Some in northern England, the Midlands and beyond may welcome cancellation of the heavily over-budget Birmingham-Manchester leg of HS2. There is a superficial allure to the promise of spending £3bn instead on "hundreds" of rail, road and bus schemes, including strengthening east-west connections in what the governments has dubbed "Network North".
It goes on to fret about the "squandered" years of preparatory planning–none of which anticipated the massive cost overruns. Sound familiar? The Gavinor doesn't have to worry about his California vote-buying; it's intact. But if he wants to move to Washington, DC perhaps Mr. Sunak is setting the example.
While we are pondering what sort of local east-west road "scheme" might benefit from a smidgen of the California high-cost rail boondoggle gusher, let's refresh our memory thusly from the DJ on Tuesday: Broadway Station grade separation ‘within reach’
It’s been nearly 20 years since a train has stopped at Broadway Station in Burlingame during the weekday, and Caltrain officials said it will take raising the tracks there for that to happen again.
However, the $316 million project is still seeking funding through the federal government. Councilmember Emily Beach said the project is about 83% locally funded through Measure A’s half-cent sales tax. Beach said the project needs the rest of the funding before it breaks ground, anticipated in spring 2026. “It is well within reach,” Beach said. “And we are going to get it done very soon.”
If one is 17% percent behind something that is moving faster than you are, you are losing ground. If Gavin were in Sunak's shoes, we would be closer to fixing the daily disaster that is the Broadway interchange. But he is not, and neither are we. We are relying on the Inflation Production Act to save our bacon. Can you say "grease fire"?
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