Daily Breeze (Torrance)

The bullet train just won't go away

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This won't come as a shock, but the California High Speed Rail Authority has once again admitted the bullet train will cost even more than expected and will probably be delayed another few years.

On Thursday, the HSRA train was being championed provided a project update, in 2008, California­ns which included a few remarkable were told the bullet train project takeaways. would cost as little as $33

First, the initial stretch being billion to link Los Angeles and worked on to link Bakersfiel­d San Francisco. and Merced probably That's less than the current won't even be ready by cost to build the Bakersfiel­d to 2030, as the rail authority said Merced line. would be the case last year. In other words, California­ns

Now, the HSRA says that were promised a $33 billion segment could be operationa­l project linking Los Angeles sometime between 2030 and and San Francisco but for 2033. $35.3 billion they might end

For reference, when voters up with a Bakersfiel­d to Merced were pitched a bond measure train sometime in 2030 to to finance the high-speed 2033. rail project back in 2008, Obviously, if history is any they were told the bullet train indication, we'll see even further would be ready to go by 2020. delays, controvers­ies and Instead, California­ns can expect problems that will further underscore to be able to take the bullet how absurd it is that train from Bakersfiel­d to California officials want to Merced if they really, really keep pressing on. want to. In 10 years. As this editorial board has

But that's not all. Now, the said repeatedly for years, it is HSRA expects the bullet train time for state lawmakers to project will cost upward of speak up loudly and clearly $128 billion, a 13% increase against this total disaster of a from estimates given last year. project.

For reference, when the bullet Enough.

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