CA High Speed Rail Proposition Appears To Win Narrow Approval
A $10 billion high speed rail bond is winning with 52.2% voting 'Yes' with 95% of the precincts reporting. This would be the first state bond measure supporting high speed rail to be supported by voters in U.S., though it only funds 1/3 of costs.
"Proposition 1A would start funding construction of a high-speed rail line between the Transbay Terminal in San Francisco and Los Angeles Union Station. The trip would take about 2 1/2 hours, according to the High Speed Rail Authority, and would cost $55 one way.
The system would be the largest public works project in California history - bigger than the California Aqueduct - and would cost $32 billion for the main line between San Francisco and Los Angeles and another $10 billion to $12 billion to complete the network with extensions to San Diego, Sacramento and Riverside County. The state is banking on getting about a third of the construction budget from state taxpayers, a third from the federal government and a third from private investors.
Legislators originally placed the rail bond on the ballot in 2004, but postponed it twice at the request of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said the state couldn't incur further debt. Although he has warned that the state may face a $10 billion deficit in its month-old budget, the governor is supporting the rail bond as an important investment in the state's transportation system."
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- Don't Fund California's High Speed Rail, Says Review Committee - Jan 06, 2012
- Another Billion Dollars Awarded to CA HSR - Nov 24, 2011
- New CA HSR Estimates: Double the Cost, Twice As Long To Build - Nov 02, 2011
- California HSR Figures Released, Leaving Project's Fate Shaky - Nov 02, 2011
- CA High Speed Rail: Litigation Bonanza - Sep 20, 2011
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It's A Go!
Prop 1A's lead kept, and with 100% of precincts reporting, the $9.95 billion bond measure won with 52% of the vote.
And the future looks bright- indicated CA's senior senator:
"Sen. Dianne Feinstein, at a post-election press briefing Wednesday, praised voters for passing Proposition 1A, and predicted federal financial support for California high-speed rail."
"There is legislation that will set up 11 regional systems in the U.S. for high-speed rail, and we will qualify as one of them," she said. "I think we've now got our ducks in order to be No. 1 on that list, and as an appropriater, that will be a job of mine."
High-Speed Rail Authority readies action plan, Nov.6
Irvin Dawid, Palo Alto, CA