CA's High Speed Rail Hampered By Controversy

In this political column, Sac Bee columnist Dan Walters opines that the $.9 billion of CA's HSR $9.9 billion bond measure may be the only realistic accomplishment of Prop 1A due to budgetary and political hurdles the train may not be able to succumb.

July 21, 2009, 12pm PDT | Irvin Dawid

In November, 2008, California voters approved a $9.95 billion bond measure to connect LA and San Francisco with 220 mph high speed rail. While the project is proceeding, the state's budget crisis and local opposition in some regions have given pause to many who question whether the train will, or should be built. In fact, a possible 'poison pill' was inserted into the yet-to-be signed budget, currently over $26 billion in the red.

"Environmental activists in Palo Alto are complaining about the impact (of HSR) on their city and, somewhat mysteriously, language appeared in still-pending revisions to the 2009-10 state budget that makes allocation of $139 million in high-speed rail planning funds contingent on "alternative alignments" being considered. Advocates of the Pacheco Pass route consider that to be a poison pill and will try to get it removed before a final budget is enacted, if that ever occurs."

Thanks to MTC-ABAG library

Full Story:

Dan Walters: Is now the right time build a railroad?

Published on Monday, July 20, 2009 in The Sacramento Bee