[jmecklenborg]

^The Democrats will likely regain control of the Senate and the White House in 2020, which will mean a return to the federal government funding intercity passenger rail improvements as it did during Obama's first two years, which is where the big stimulus grant originated, along with the money that appeared in 2011-12 after having been rejected by tea party governors in Ohio and Wisconsin in 2010-11.

The Phase 2 extension to Sacramento would be about 115 miles, which roughly what is under construction currently in the Central Valley. The whole thing might cost less than the 13-mile Pacheco Pass tunnel.

The wye is being built as part of Phase 1, including a station at Merced. This means an incremental extension of this spur will be possible, such as a 35-mile extension to Modesto, a second 25-mile extension to Stockton, and then a final 45-mile extension to Sacramento.

Look for CAHSR to leverage HSR to Las Vegas while building its case for funding the Palmdale-Burbank segment. The way to do this is to build a bistate coalition and have the Nevada legislature allocate money. It's probably illegal for Nevada to pay directly for something in California, but since Las Vegas needs LA much more than LA needs Las Vegas, and only 35~ miles of such a line would be within Nevada, they could devise a clever way for Las Vegas to pay for some of the construction in California, or do something like have Nevada pay for all of the rolling stock necessary for the line.