M.S. Bellows, Jr. on Nostr: Hell, I'd even consider running all the way down the Nevada desert to Vegas, then ...

Hell, I'd even consider running all the way down the Nevada desert to Vegas, then across through San Bernardino to LA. Right-of-way acquisition would be far cheaper than in the Central Valley. But then you couldn't include the Bay Area without a spur through Truckee -- and, again, mountains.

And if it did run through California, I'd look at going down the far west edge through Vacaville and Tracy rather than Sacramento, before drifting back to I-5. That would serve both SF and San Jose much better.