Comments on: California High-Speed Monorail System

By: David Cohen

David Cohen — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 22:39:47 +0000

This strikes me as a wonderful idea. I have discussed such a concept for some time here in Texas, but your project is much further along in its conception. Obviously, execution will be very challenging. I believe that a similar proposal would apply with equal validity here in Texas — connecting, Austin with Dallas to the north, San Antonio to the southwest, and Houston to the southeast, along the medians of I-35 and I-10. Presumably, and with appropriate federal/state involvement, the often prohibitively expensive cost of obtaining right-of-way either directly or by condemnation would be eliminated. The population densities and relative proximity of these cities to one another would lend themselves very well to such travel.

Does the high-speed monorail technology exist today to make such an enterprise feasible?

Assuming that the federal and state governments have neither the means nor the will to bring such a project off, but would welcome this boon to the infrastructure, I propose presenting a detailed plan to a private investor — such as Warren Buffett, who has the financial wherewithal and ought to see the benefits of building and owning such a system, If even Buffett might balk at a price tag perhaps north of $10 billion, he likely has a few colleagues who would be interested in investing. High speed rail was considered here in Texas several years ago; however, the fledgling Southwest Airlines — heavily dependent on the Dallas-Houston-Austin traffic — effectively killed the plan. Southwest is no longer a local airline fearful of such competition — or, at least, not so fearful as to present a formidable opposition, especially given all the benefits this project will bring to the environment and the economy.

I would be delighted to assist in helping to bring this project to completion and on-going success.

By: Lawrence Calabro

Lawrence Calabro — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:21:56 +0000

Almost 50 years ago while attending the Mechanical Engineering Show in NYC I saw a demonstration of an underslung high speed monorail system by a company from Washington State. I was impressed then as I am now with the technology, that was 50 years ago and sad to say the technology has not been utilized to any great degree (tranportation wise) in our nation. Its benifits were apparent then as they are now but yet there is still resistance to its implimentation, can you or anyone else explain this. I think what you propose is a marvelous idea it addresses most if not all of the mass trasit problems within the state. I would if I had anything to do with its planning (I guess once an engineer always an engineer even though retired) see provisions for comercial container tranportation via the system.

By: Eric Wickland

Eric Wickland — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:01:22 +0000

Thank you, g.r.r., for your comment. If you read our "Blueprint for a New American Industry" article, you will come to learn of a process through which a US monorail industry that is 100% American is developed. As such, this nascent industry would push the state of the monorail industry well beyond its present international standing and be a boom to the U.S. economy, providing a significant number of new jobs.

By: g.r.r.

g.r.r. — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 10:08:28 +0000

This is putting the cart before the horse. I am sorry, but planning routes for foreign companies does the American monorail no good. The best way, would be to push a company to produce small scale of a decent design and then get that sold with patents being obtained. Once you have it started on a small scale, then you can expand to larger systems.