California Lawmakers OK Funding For High-Speed Rail Line
California lawmakers have approved billions of dollars in construction financing for the first segment of what would be the nation's first dedicated high-speed rail line.
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California lawmakers have approved billions of dollars in construction financing for the first segment of what would be the nation's first dedicated high-speed rail line.
The California Assembly has approved legislation authorizing about $4.5 billion in state bond funding for a high-speed rail system backed by Gov. Jerry Brown.
The future of Caltrain has now been tied to a key vote set for Friday on the California High-Speed Rail project that could also determine the future of Gov. Jerry Brown's push to raise taxes.
A critical vote is expected to take place this week in Sacramento as California legislators will decide on whether to issue almost $3 billion in state bonds for the high-speed rail project.
The study by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute found that electrification would create thousands of jobs while also helping the environment.
Farmers in the Central Valley have filed a pair of lawsuits claiming the path of the bullet train line will severely impact farming in the community.
The California project is seen as one that will lay the groundwork for future high-speed rail projects across the country.
California's high-speed rail chief has said he's seeking environmental exemptions on the first 130-mile leg of the bullet train in the San Joaquin Valley.
The state's nonpartisan analyst says the latest proposal to build a $68.4 billion high-speed train system linking Northern and Southern California is still too vague.
The authority overseeing efforts to build a high-speed rail system in California has approved its revised business plan, sending the ambitious project to an uncertain fate in the Legislature.
A congressional committee has begun a review of California's high-speed rail project, including possible conflicts of interest and whether a large government commitment would pull federal tax dollars away from other transportation projects.
High-speed rail is on its way to California even though polls show that a majority of residents don't want it. Now, State senator Mark DeSaulnier of Concord said that he believes there should be a comprehensive rail plan in place to guide future decisions.
California's plan to build the nation's first high-speed rail system has identified one alternative funding source if federal and private-sector money does not materialize.
The authority overseeing planning for California's high-speed rail project has released a fresh proposal with a new price tag and a scaled-back design.
A recently announced agreement to pour $1.5 billion of high speed rail money into the effort to "electrify" the Caltrain tracks apparently has some strings attached.
Even though most Californians think the budget remains a big problem, just a slim majority of likely voters say they support Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed tax initiative for the November ballot, according to a survey released Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California.
As concerns mount over the practicality and affordability of California's plan to build a high-speed rail system, Governor Jerry Brown has emerged as the most vocal cheerleader.
Bay Area transportation agencies are in talks with the state's High-Speed Rail Authority to pay for the "electrification" of Caltrain tracks, which would mean bullet trains moving at speeds of up to 110 miles per hour by 2016, 5 to 10 years sooner than had been discussed.
According to the documents, the California High-Speed Rail Authority paid over $160,000 last year to hire the firm to court the state's politicians.
The board overseeing California's plan to build a $98 billion high-speed rail system chose an appointee of Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday to take over as its chairman.
In a new report, the auditor said the latest high-speed rail business plan relies on uncertain funding sources and financing for the project has become increasingly risky.
Mounting costs and skepticism about high speed rail should not dissuade California from connecting all of its major cities with bullet trains, Gov. Jerry Brown said.
Just days after the release of a scathing critique of the bullet train project, the chief executive officer of the California High-Speed Rail Authority announced he was stepping down.
San Francisco Supervisor Sean Elsbernd wants a reality check on the city's Transbay Terminal Project if high-speed rail is not built.
Dianne Feinstein said she is concerned the state will lose out on federal funding if the leadership is not changed.
