Friday, August 26, 2011

ARTIC issues RFP answers for qualified artists

All,
ARTIC has issued responses from qualified artists about the art pieces for the surrounding areas and inside the station.



There are also some links with high-res photos of the ARTIC project and overhead shots of the different floors of the station.

You can find the link here;
http://www.anaheim.net/images/section/164/PublicArtRFPAddendumNo1FINAL.pdf

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Ca/Nv Maglev News

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Anaheim/OC Foodie Fest Aug 27! THIS WEEKEND!

All,

If you ever wanted a reason to go down to Anaheim and explore the proposed area(s) for the ARTIC project.  THIS WEEKEND (Aug 27, 2011) there is the OC Foodie fest at Anaheim Stadium!

You can get all the info and tickets here:
http://www.ocfoodiefest.com/

DETAILS HERE:
http://www.ocfoodiefest.com/the-details/




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Ca/Nv Maglev News

Chattanooga/Atlanta private Money comes forward for MAGLEV

All,

Please see the following story about how the proposed Chattanooga/Atlanta Maglev project recently has received a private investment able to qualify for matching funds...of $13.8 M.

http://getatlantaonline.com/2011/08/high-speed-rail-study-grant/

http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-atlanta/high-speed-rail-study-grant-for-atlanta-chattanooga-line
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Ca/Nv Maglev News

DX presenting to African American Chamber in Victorville (THIS SATURDAY)

All,
We just found a news article from the Daily Press in Victorville and Menafn.com
The DX project will be presenting in Victorville (THIS SATURDAY, 8/27) to the Victor Valley African American Chamber of Commerce.

http://www.vvdailypress.com/articles/summit-29696-victorville-african.html

"The summit — which is free and open to the public — will feature several guest speakers in addition to roundtable discussions, Chamber President Lionel Dew said. Topics will range from the DesertXpress train to Las Vegas and jobs in the High Desert, to school issues and child behavior.


The summit will take place 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Southern California Edison building, 12353 Hesperia Road in Victorville."




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Ca/Nv Maglev News

Monday, August 22, 2011


New Solar Plant in Primm, Nv.

All,


First Solar has signed a contract with Southern California Edison to produce 250 MW of solar power near Primm, Nv.  The area will be about 2,500 acres and will be ready by 2014 and fully operational by 2017.  This solar project will create about 300 new construction jobs.  First Solar also has a location in Boulder City on about 88 acres.


The solar panels will be ground-mounted on about 2,500 acres of public land near Primm, Nev. First Solar is developing the project, named Silver State South, which will interconnect with SCE’s proposed Eldorado-Ivanpah 220-kilovolt transmission line. The project is expected to begin producing electricity as early as 2014 and be fully operational by May 2017. It will create about 300 construction jobs, and the solar panels will be recycled after their useful lifespan.
http://investor.firstsolar.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=201491&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1526935&highlight=


(Wonders if we will start to see new housing in the area, or what a great option to commute from Vegas to Primm on the Maglev!)


Here's a map so you can see how big this project is going to be.
[Image]
http://www.wildnevada.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=544:fast-track-silver-state&catid=89


Don't forget that there is another project just to the West and South of Primm on the California side.  This will be on 3,600 acres creating 392MW!
http://ivanpahsolar.com/
or
http://canvmaglevnews.blogspot.com/2010/11/ivanpah-solar-plant-to-break-ground-on.html


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Ca/Nv Maglev News


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Ca/Nv Maglev News

(Nv.) Sen. Reid and (Ca.) Gov. Jerry Brown discussing DX to CAHSR?

All,
The Las Vegas Review Journal and reporter Norm Clarke is reporting that Senator Reid has "established a working relationship" with California Governor Brown about linking both the DesertXpress and the CAHSR system... saying it "should be advantageous to the cooperative relationship."


You can follow the story here:
http://www.lvrj.com/news/dion-lopez-offer-talent-for-telethon-128117418.html


Could this be for the possible connection to CA-HSR that DesertXpress is hoping for in Palmdale, that now may be moved for a cheeper route through Gorman to Santa Claritia?


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Ca/Nv Maglev News

Sunday, August 21, 2011

"New Australia" Transrapid proposal

All,
Over the past few weeks we've seen a few emails back and forth about the proposal for a Transrapid Maglev train system running in Australia.  From Melbourne to Geelong and the area aiports.

To the main page of "New Australia" here:
http://www.newaustralia.net/ma.html

You can find the links to the proposal here:
http://www.newaustralia.net/MaglevAlternative.pdf

But, the interesting part is within the pdf, see page (3).  There is a current Oct 2010 maglev cost quote based on $34M per kilometer for double track.  (Assuming that 50% is elevated and 50% is at grade).  Unfortunately its not reported if this price is in US dollars or not.


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Ca/Nv Maglev News

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Vegas Inc article... "Train to Nowhere"

All,
We suggest going to the Vegas Inc article from Richard N. Velotta; and read the lower article "Train to Nowhere."  A reader (David Adams) wrote to Sen. Harry Reid "tongue firmly planted in cheek" seeking funding for a high-speed train running from Las Vegas to Yerington, Nv. just like Desert Express.  He even got a form letter from Sen. Reid informing him how to apply for FRA funds!


http://www.vegasinc.com/news/2011/aug/15/hold-presses-im-facebook-and-twitter-folks-its-new/


Las Vegas to Victorville is about 183 miles.  So, we decided to do some fact finding for other towns on a map 183 miles from Vegas to see if an HSR could be supported.  


*Please keep in mind that there are NO proposed additional HSR routes.  The stats below are for a fictitious routing of what would be available for an HSR.   All routing, estimations, proposals, alignments, designs, etc..is for entertainment use only.  
Please direct questions to company(s) providing said service.*


Goldfield, Nv. ~ population 440  (not big enough for a sq. mile)
>Stops along the way...
*Indian Springs, Nv. (population 1,302 ~ 19 sq miles)
*Beatty, Nv. (population 1,154 ~ 7 sq miles)




Enoch, Ut. ~ population 3,467 ~ 3 sq. miles
>Stops along the way...
Mesquite, Nv. (population 14,800 ~ 15.6 sq miles)
St. George, Ut, (population 72, 897 ~ 64 sq. miles)
Cedar City, Ut. (population 20, 527 ~ 20 sq. miles) 




Seligman, Az.  (population 456 ~ 6 sq. miles)
>Stops along the way...
Boulder City, Nv. (population 15,023 ~ 78 sq. miles)
Kingman, Az. (population 28,068 ~ 30 sq. miles)




Blythe, Ca. ~ (population 20,817 ~ 26 sq. miles)
>Stops along the way...
Boulder City, Nv. (population 15,023 ~ 78 sq. miles)
Needles, Ca. (population 4,844 ~ 31 sq. miles)



DesertXpress route...(note, proposed not to stop at Primm, Baker, or Barstow).
Victorville, Ca ~ (population 115,903 ~ 73 sq. miles)
>Stops along the way...
Primm, Nv. (un-measurable. only housing for stateline casinos)
Baker, Ca. (population 735 ~ 3 sq. miles)
Barstow, Ca. (population 22,639 ~  41 sq. miles)

*all sats via wikipedia.com*


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Ca/Nv Maglev News

Monday, August 15, 2011

ARTIC (P3) One Sheeter Found. With Maglev station?

All,


While visiting ARTICINFO.COM we noticed a new pdf one-sheeter for (P3 ~ Public/Private/Partnership) in the upper right hand corner.  What sparked our interest is a photo of the backside of the ARTIC station.







What's that long tube of glass with (2) tracks on the right hand side you might ask?  This is the location for the proposed CA/NV MAGLEV stop for Anaheim!  However, keep in mind that this photo appears to be the stage 3 of completion for ARTIC project.  


Also this photo was from the set of renderings back in January of this year....
http://canvmaglevnews.blogspot.com/2011/01/updated-artic-station-renderings.html


You can view the ARTIC one-sheeter here:
http://www.ARTICINFO.com/PDF/ULI%20ARTIC%20Ad%20Final%209-20-11.pdf 


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Ca/Nv Maglev News

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

CaHSR first section could cost an additional $7 billion

All,


As reported by the AP and KABC-TV (Channel 7 Los Angeles)... New environmental reports released on Tuesday for the first section (Central Valley - 140 miles of track between Bakersfield and Merced), will cost between $10 - $13.9 billion.  Back in 2009 there was an estimate of $7.1 Billion.


[...]
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/state&id=8298908

Story posted 2011.08.10 at 03:06 AM PDT
MYABC7 News
Building the first section of the state's proposed high-speed rail line could cost billions more than originally estimated.
 New environmental reports released Tuesday show the first segment of the line in the Central Valley will cost between $10 billion and $13.9 billion, far more than the 2009 estimate of $7.1 billion.


The first stage of the line would stretch about 140 miles from just north of Bakersfield to near Merced. Critics have blasted the rail line as a "train to nowhere" because the first section would link relatively small towns away from the state's major population areas.


State lawmakers who have supported California's ambitious high-speed rail project questioned whether the state can afford it.


Supporters of the rail project said the private sector will be a significant source of funding and that the money will start flowing once work begins.


The Associated Press contributed to this story

Story posted 2011.08.10 at 03:06 AM PDT
[...]
This appears to give the "grapevine" route a bit of an edge due to the higher costs of routing through the Antelope Valley (Teachapi mountains) to the Palmdale station and additional tunneling to reach Santa Clarita.



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Ca/Nv Maglev News

Sunday, August 7, 2011

MTA votes for Palmdale Stop for CAHSR

All,

The MTA board voted unanimously on Thursday to endorse Palmdale as a HSR stop for the CAHSR line.
Keep in mind that County Supervisor Michael Antonovich is also vice-chairman of the MTA board.

This was proposed to keep the HSR route in the Antelope Valley instead of following "the grapevine" from Barkersfield, through Gorman, and then onto Santa Clarita.

You can check out the following articles here:
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_18620748

And you can also read an interview with the Santa Clarita Mayor on the local AM station 1220.  This story goes in-depth covering the connections of the E-220 (High Dessert Corridor) and the Desert Xpress possibilities if the HSR route is brought to the Antelope Valley.

Also in the later half of the story Supervisor Antonovich also requests that the September 2011 CAHSR board meeting be held in the Antelope Valley.
http://hometownstation.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25582:antonovich-palmdale-highspeed-2011-08-05-&catid=26:local-news&Itemid=97

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Ca/Nv Maglev News

Transrapid Lathen gets 1.5 million but there's a catch!

All,
The test track in Lathen Germany for Transrapid is getting its final assistance from the German government of 1.5 million Euros!  However, it has a catch.  In order to receive the funding there will need to be a plan in place for dismantling the plant.


However, there was mention in the article that "An application to the Tenerife (Spain) route should be built."  


You can find the original German article here:
http://www.noz.de/drucken/55891050/23-eze-10-tansrapid


And here is the translated version for the story below.



Berlin / Lathen. The Federal Ministry of Finance provides an additional 1.5 million euros for the Transrapid Test Facility Emsland (TVE) in Lathen. This has informed the CDU Bundestag member Gitta Connemann.
Another 1.5 million € for Transrapid. 
The decision was preceded by intensive discussions at the Federal Ministry of Transport with the Parliamentary Secretary Ferlemann Anak, which had also participated at the managing director of operating company IABG, Rudolf F. Schwarz, and the manager of TVE, Dr. Ralf Effenberger. The funding would be on 22 of the Federal Expired in July, so Connemann in a press release. In the 2011 budget but an overall approach in the amount of € 5.95 million was provided, but is subject to a budget freeze. After presenting a rough concept for decommissioning funds so far in the amount of € 3.5 million had been released.
To achieve the award of an additional 1.5 million euros, were all involved, "pulled together" as the MPs. She especially emphasized the use of management and the works of IABG. "Others have lost the courage. This shows once more the special identification with a unique technology. The staff of the TVE have kept the technology site Lathen in the harshest conditions the faith. "The operation was able to rely on the support of the political community.
Municipality mayor Kar-Heinz Weber (CDU) said the result with relief: "Our joint effort has paid off. An application to Tenerife route should be built, I see more opportunities for the pilot plant. I hope also to use the considerations of the plant for testing of electric vehicles, will soon be decided positively. "
Now, according to the federal budget Connemann a million euros earmarked for the TVE. However, the funds are locked until further requirements would be met by the IABG. This included the concretization of the concept for the dismantling of the plant. About the release of funds would be decided by year end. Federal funding is at an end. "Everyone involved is aware that the TVE would result in 2012 on the basis of an application project. But until then will engage the federal government. "



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Ca/Nv Maglev News

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

DX could spell trouble for BARSTOW

All,
A news article was posted on July 31 regarding the status of Barstow if the DX was to move forward with negative effects on Barstow.  This article was picked up and reprinted in a lot of San Bernardino community newspapers.


The following News sites that we can find have reprinted this article:

The Sun (San Bernardino)
http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_18589596

Readlands Daily Facts
http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/news/ci_18591735

Inland Politics
http://inlandpolitics.com/blog/2011/08/01/the-sun-xpress-could-spell-trouble/

Back in December 2010 there was report generated for the FRA to speak and to evaluate the finance and jobs that will be lost due to the ridership moving from I-15 to the DX line, not stopping in Barstow.

You can find the FRA requested report here:
http://www.fra.dot.gov/rpd/downloads/Appendix_F_E_Barstow_Econ_Study.pdf 

Also check out the FRA Appendix B Husing Review (June 2, 2011) a response to the Barstow report by Ronald Barbieri (a real estate economist working for the City of Barstow) here:
http://www.fra.dot.gov/rpd/downloads/Appendix_B_Husing_Review.pdf

Here is the Ronald Barbieri report (October 2010) from the City of Barstow to FRA:
http://www.barstowca.org/site/images/pdf/Public_DesertXpressBarstow.pdf


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Ca/Nv Maglev News

Maglev and Shanghai Disneyland location

All,


With the recent groundbreaking ceremony for the new Shanghai Disneyland theme park we wanted to see where the park was going to be located.




The letter "B" represents the freeway exit.  It appears that the Maglev will go right by this exit.  There have been NO reports if the Maglev will stop or not.


You can check out the surrounding area and fields by visiting the "Theme Park Guy" website. They grabbed one photo of the Maglev while they were there.
http://www.thethemeparkguy.com/park/shanghai-disneyland/


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Ca/Nv Maglev News

UK Ultraspeed response to HS2 route

All,
UK Ultraspeed has submitted a response to the UK Government's HS2 proposed route.


You can download the detailed response letter here:
www.500kmh.com/UKU_response_to_HS2_consultation_110728.pdf


Heres a link to their main page:
http://www.500kmh.com/




Heres a great video showcasing the benefits for MAGLEV vs. HSR.  It also has some great shots of the cabin and both Lathen and Shanghai stations.



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Ca/Nv Maglev News

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Proposed Pittsburgh Maglev route files for Bankruptcy

All,
Not the best MAGLEV news this week.  The proposed Pittsburgh MAGLEV route has filled for Chapter 11 to get out of debts while waiting for $28 Million in Federal Grants already promised but not released.


[...]
Maglev Inc. boards train to bankruptcy




The company that once planned a high-tech, magnetically levitating train from Pittsburgh International Airport to Greensburg has come off the rails.
McKeesport-based Maglev Inc. this week filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in an effort to reorganize, get out from under its debts and continue waiting for about $28 million in federal grants that were promised but hadn't been signed over to the company, President Fred Gurney said.
"It's just part of the economy being down. We've got the money out there, but the funds aren't being released," he said on Wednesday. "If we were shutting down entirely, we'd have done it long ago; we believe in what we're trying to do."
[...]
You can find out more about the project here:

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Ca/Nv Maglev News

Barstow Casino meeting update (July 28)

All,


The Barstow Casino project held its first public hearing about the proposed project.  It appears that the public comment portion will last until Sept 14.


You can read about it here:
http://www.barstowcasinoproject.com/2011/07/hundreds-attend-wednesdays-casino-hearing/


An article from the Redlands Daily Facts wrote the following and how or if the Casino project success is based upon the DX project.


http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/news/ci_18591735

Rail project seen as threat to fragile Barstow economy

By JIM STEINBERG, Staff Writer

[...]

"There is a lot of potential to offset this (rail) project (but) I am very doubtful about its viability," said Ron Rector, Barstow's community and economic development director.

If the $160million casino opens, it is expected to employ more than 800 and inject some $40million in annual salaries into the area.

A spokesman for the developer, Detroit-based BarWest Gambling Inc., said the Desert Xpress proposal does not alter the business plan for the casino.

"It will be for a select group of people," said Tom Shields. "The other 98percent of the folks traveling back and forth on the highway will be our targeted customers.

"And you never really know about a project like this unless you see the shovels in the ground."

[...]


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Ca/Nv Maglev News

ARTIC / ARC website updates and announcements

All,
ARTIC and the City of Anaheim have announced the short-listed (10) artists from (73) for the ARTIC project.  They have also updated the City of Anaheim (transit planning website) with direct links to updates of the project.


They have also updated the ARC (Anaheim Rapid Connection) site with the same format as the ARTIC site.


The City of Anaheim has also included web links for the Pacific Electric Corridor project as well.



Here is the list of the (10) Short listed artists for ARTIC.  


 R.M. Fischer 
 Adam Frank 
 Alice Aycock 
 Donald Lipski 
 Artist Team of: Louise Bertelsen & Po Shu Wang 
 Jim Gallucci 
 Artist Team of: Janet Lee & Jenny Voznesensky 
 Artist Team of: George Rhoads & Joe O’Connell 
 Mikyoung Kim 
 Artist Team of: Stephen Glassman, Philip Glass, Alejandra Lillo, & Russell Fortmeyer 


ARTIC (transit planning website)
http://www.anaheim.net/articlenew2222.asp?id=4471


ARC (transit planning website)
http://www.anaheim.net/articlenew2222.asp?id=4454


City of Anaheim Transit website (Main page)
http://www.anaheim.net/title/Public+Works/Transit+Planning/page.htm


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Ca/Nv Maglev News