>>1363841CHSRA never scaled back plans, Newsom is just a dipshit who couldn't explain what was actually happening. CHSRA will be doing preconstruction for Pacheco Tunnels in 18 months, which will be the 2nd most expensive part of the project. While they are being built, San Joaquins will go on the new track in the CV to give them revenue via a 1% ticket surcharge. This will give them more than enough money to power through Pacheco construction then move into Initial Service between 4th&King and Bakersfield by 2023-4. By this point the lawsuit over the Federal money will be done and that money will pay for tunnels into Palmdale, and thus Metrolink/Xpresswest then Electrolink into Anahiem.
But to your point, their strategy requires maximum cooperation with local authorities aka blended service. This is how everything keeps moving forward, because everyone has a part to play and does it while the authority provides a larger plan to integrate into. Even Tulare County is into it with their rail plan, which is how they are going to steal an HSR stop from Palo Alto.
Most recently this can be seen with the Diridon-Gilroy segment which is now going to be at-grade on a new 2nd and 3rd tracks adjacent the UP line, as opposed to all aerials all the way from Santa Clara to the Pacheco Tunnel portal. More money is saved and suddenly Caltrain has the ability to do hourly service to stations south of SJ. It also brings up CapCor integration because they're extending to Salinas south of Gilroy. This means more cash for CHSRA and more political support for individual lines.
