California bullet train board approves environmental studies
State bullet train officials Thursday approved the environmental impact studies for an initial section of high-speed track to be built from Merced to Fresno, a decision that sets the stage for possible legal challenges from powerful Central Valley farming interests.
Certification of the final state and federal environmental reports is a critical step before the California High-Speed Rail Authority can begin to secure government permits and award construction contracts for the first phase of the $68-billion project that would link Los Angeles and San Francisco with 200 mph trains.
“Today we reached a major milestone toward making high-speed rail a reality,” said Dan Richard, chairman of the agency’s board of directors, which met in Fresno.
-- Dan Weikel and Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times