Source Notes 27

Interview with Quentin Kopp of the California High-Speed Rail Authority (03/03/2008)

Summary:

Quentin Kopp, Chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, explained the costs of the California project passed in February 2008 and the state of high-speed rail nationally.  This source elicits the views of a high-speed rail authority leader in California, which just started the second high-speed rail project in the United States’ history.

Topic:

High-Speed Rail Policy

Category:

citizen

What is it?

an interview

Publication Information:

Edward Stratton is the medium conveying this interview.  The interview was published on March 3, 2008 in Eugene, Oregon.

Author:

Quentin Kopp

Location:

audio recording

Accessed:

March 3, 2008

Support:

Quentin Kopp, Chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority

John Kerry, a Democratic Senator from Massachusetts

Arlen Spector, a Republican Senator from Pennsylvania

Tom Carper, a Democratic Senator from Delaware

Jim Oberstar, a Democratic-Farm Labor Representative of the House from Minnesota

John Mica, a Republican Representative of the House from Florida

Barack Obama, President of the United States

Quentin Kopp explained that the total cost of the California high-speed rail project would be approximately $43 billion.  He also said that the main objections against high-speed rail are the costs, annoyance about high-speed rail noise in urban areas, and ignorance concerning the issue.  He also said that John Kerry, Arlen Specter, Tom Carper, Jim Oberstar,  and John Mica are the members of Congress most involved with developing high-speed rail.  He also said that President Obama is the biggest supporter of high-speed rail.  He also said that the new Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, will be visiting California to learn more about its high-speed rail project.  He ended by saying that federal revenue to educate the population should be set aside, because approximately 80 percent of Americans don’t know what high-speed rail is.

Audience and Agenda:

The interview had one audience member.  That member was a college student with considerable knowledge about the issues surrounding high-speed rail in the United States.  He expected information and contacts from a biased professional advocating high-speed rail.

Quentin Kopp is funded by the California High-Speed Rail Authority.  The California High-Speed Rail Authority is funded by the California Department of Transportation.  The California Department of Transportation is funded by California’s state congress.  He is trying to provide effective answers that are in line with the goals of all of those government entities.

Usefulness:

This story is in both a regional and national context, focusing on California’s project and national political support for it.  The source was created by a researching student looking for professional opinions.  Kopp did not know the student had much background knowledge on high-speed rail.

The content of the Kopp’s answers focus on the in-depth information the college student is searching for.  He is always making the argument that high-speed rail is the right transportation system to develop.  Since he works for a high-speed rail authority, there was a very low chance of him not backing high-speed rail as the first transportation option.

He leaves out any information about political opposition to Proposition 1A from the California governor trying to balance the budget.  He also doesn’t point out any failures relating to past high-speed rail projects.  Kopp is obviously trying to increase the support for high-speed rail in anybody that he talks to.

Focusing on California, this source relates to Source Notes 2, Source Notes 3, Source Notes 9, Source Notes 11, and Source Notes 17.  Focusing on the views of one or more politicians, this source relates to Source Notes 22, Source Notes 8, and Source Notes 6.  Being an interview, this source relates to Source Notes 25 and Source Notes 27.

Works Cited:

“Quentin Kopp.”  Wikipedia.  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quentin_Kopp>

“Contact the California High-Speed Rail Authority.”  California High-Speed Rail Authority.  <http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/contact.htm>

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Filed under: Journalistic