Not So Fast: California High-Speed Rail Faces New Obstacles

Lawsuits have been settled, a builder has been selected, and just as it seemed that construction of California's high-speed rail system would begin this summer, Ralph Vartabedian and Dan Weikel throw water on the recent spate of good news.

"California's bullet train agency is facing a series of new regulatory and political problems that could jeopardize its July construction kickoff, which already has been delayed more than six months," the reporters say. "The new challenges are coming from a private railroad that controls a key right of way, a legislative committee delving into contracting issues and a powerful federal agency asserting authority over the project."