Congress cuts future funding for California’s bullet train
The U.S. Senate approved a package of legislation Thursday night that eliminates future funding for high-speed rail projects, including the California bullet train.
The vote, coming after a similar vote in the House of Representatives, leaves the future of the ambitious state project to create a new rail system from Southern California to the Bay Area uncertain. The state has less than 15% of the funds needed for the $98.5-billion project.
Gov. Jerry Brown said last week that he will launch the project next year despite the prospect of a federal funding cutoff, using only the money the state has in hand. The existing funds include $3.3 billion from prior federal grants and as much as $9 billion in state bond funds that were approved by voters in 2008.
But the vote Thursday appears to signal that unless the political makeup of Congress changes in coming elections, California may not get any additional funds for the project.
-- Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times
Photo: A mock-up of the California high-speed rail system. Credit: California High Speed Rail Authority