California bullet train project struggles to survive

“Despite an occasional frustrated outburst, the state High Speed Rail Authority outlined a determined but non-confrontational strategy Monday to press for survival of a state bullet train. The agency is trying to counter recommendations by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to give it only a fraction of its proposed budget next year and to drop permanently a $10 billion bond for the train from the ballot. ‘That’s not good news for high speed rail,’ Visalia Mayor Jesus Gamboa said of the governor’s proposals after testifying in favor of the train that would run through the San Joaquin Valley. HSRA board member Rod Diridon had a stronger reaction about the plan to jettison the bond to fund the first phase of the train linking Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. ‘That is obnoxious,’ he said.”