Al Jazreera's english satellite covered the Obama administration's allocation of $2.25 billion to California's up and coming high-speed train. Some believe that the train, expected to take at least a decade to fully complete, will boost economic output and create thousands of new jobs in the golden state. Others, however, claim that automobile travel will remain more feasible, flexible, and popular.
In the big picture, many are excited that the Obama administration plans to spend billions of dollars to initiate construction on 13 high-speed rail lines in various parts of the US. Advocates point to South Korea, Europe, Japan, and now China, as models for a new revolution in infrastructure development and effective public transportation.
China, however, is way ahead of the game compared to California and the US. It has just unveiled the world's fastest train, and it plans to complete 42 high-speed rail lines by 2012. If they wish to compete on this scale, California and Washington DC may have to reassess its budget priorities.
An insider’s look at what's happening in Sacramento.
