A Precipitous Price Drop for California's High-Speed Rail

Dan Smith and David Siders indicate what's in store for Monday's (April 2) meeting of the CA High-Speed Rail Authority in Fresno where the revised business plan will be released at the Southern Pacific Depot. The board meets on April 5 to "review and approve" the plan.

"The lower estimate is tied to a series of changes to the project, primarily by relying on existing rail lines in and around Los Angeles and the Bay Area." These changes "were suggested by rail officials weeks ago, including the "blended approach," in which existing tracks in urban areas would be upgraded and eventually used by high-speed rail." The cost to HSRA would be $1.5 billion, far less than had the authority built separate tracks.

"The plan now will rely on a high-speed line down the spine of the state – from Merced to the San Fernando Valley – with tie-ins to improved tracks in the Bay Area and Los Angeles.

Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to ask the Legislature to appropriate $2.3 billion (of the $10 billion) in rail bond funds (approved by voters in 2008) within weeks. This week, he told reporters he spent "several hours" on the project changes."

"We are striving mightily to get a plan that can pass muster and work, and get the train built," Brown said.

Thanks to David McCoard