Market Watch

[rScotty]

How about the CA high speed railroads? Theres a boondoggle for ya.
And I‘m a real proponent of railroads

That's California at it's best - tryng things that may or may not work out. We sure could use some improvement to our road system. I wish it had worked, but still my hat is off to Californians for their willingness to investment. the rest of the country would be a lot poorer without them. We wouldn't have computers and forums for one thing. Or if we did, they would probably be made by some other country - one willing to invest in a gamble.

That brings up an interesting question, what percent of investments fail? Anyone know?

rScotty

 

[Hay Dude]

So you're saying without California, we wouldn’t have any computers or internet forums?

 

[rScotty]

So you're saying without California, we wouldn’t have any computers or internet forums?

No, I'm not saying that. Events shape innovation. And although California is the center of US innovation, I'm sure someone somewhere would have invented and popularized computers and internets and forums.
But that someone might have been in a different country.

 

[newbury]

I sure wish that I had your option. All we have in our area is the slow DSL over the old copper phone lines. It makes for slow internet service. Last year I was excited when I saw crews installing fiber optic lines a few miles away. Then they finished with the installation, 1/2 mile south of my property. When I called the company to see if they would be continuing up my way, they said that that was all the funding they had on the rural internet grant. I would be happy to pay more for better service. And I’m pondering why I still pay for a landline phone when all I get are solicitation calls on that line. My wife and I both have cell phones and everyone calls us on those.

At my Washington DC suburban house that happened about 15 years ago or so. High speed net to half a mile away. Took forever to get closer.
At my rural Mississippi house I about the same time they buried fiber down the road about the same time. But it was "dark fiber", they didn't hook it up to the net until about three years ago.
Now my county there started running fiber- parallel.
I'd been on DSL since 2010 from the phone company. "Best effort" we generally got at least 2 down and 0.7 up.
The phone company, got grants in 2019 - they are burying it. The power company got grants about the next year, they strung on the telephone/power poles.
Prices are about the same, the power company got to us first a few years ago.
Phone company is still coming.
The phone company brags about less problems with buried lines.
But so far it's no buried line.
Meanwhile the gas company got grants about 2018 to run natural gas. We put down about $800 deposit, in early 2019, and the foreman assured us it was about 3 weeks away.
Covid came along, the gas still has not got to us.
It got about half a mile from us.

 

[ultrarunner]

How about the CA high speed railroads? Theres a boondoggle for ya.
And I‘m a real proponent of railroads

Another black hole of cost over runs...

 

[two_bit_score]

but still my hat is off to Californians for their willingness to investment. the rest of the country would be a lot poorer without them. We wouldn't have computers and forums for one thing.

I think the evidence of your own words belies your denial.

 

[jyoutz]

At my Washington DC suburban house that happened about 15 years ago or so. High speed net to half a mile away. Took forever to get closer.
At my rural Mississippi house I about the same time they buried fiber down the road about the same time. But it was "dark fiber", they didn't hook it up to the net until about three years ago.
Now my county there started running fiber- parallel.
I'd been on DSL since 2010 from the phone company. "Best effort" we generally got at least 2 down and 0.7 up.
The phone company, got grants in 2019 - they are burying it. The power company got grants about the next year, they strung on the telephone/power poles.
Prices are about the same, the power company got to us first a few years ago.
Phone company is still coming.
The phone company brags about less problems with buried lines.
But so far it's no buried line.
Meanwhile the gas company got grants about 2018 to run natural gas. We put down about $800 deposit, in early 2019, and the foreman assured us it was about 3 weeks away.
Covid came along, the gas still has not got to us.
It got about half a mile from us.

Ah yes, one of the joys of rural living. Utilities. We are fortunate to have natural gas in my area to the property line, but I had to run the line 1500’ to my house. At my cost.

 

[jyoutz]

Another black hole of cost over runs...

Is there ANY construction project anywhere without cost overruns?

 

[Hay Dude]

Is there ANY construction project anywhere without cost overruns?

YES, of course there is. However, our federal gov__ment seldom, if ever has one.

 

[ultrarunner]

The National and Space Museum in D.C. widely reported to come in on time and in budget.

Friends that are contractors do.it all the time provided no changes...

Several have said they make their money on change orders...

My last clinic expansion came in on budget in 2019...

The secret is excellent planning and building without deviation securing materials under contract early...

Maybe TBN member California can add his experience with Caltrans?