California's long-delayed high-speed rail plan has a new destination: Las Vegas.
The original plan, approved by voters in 2008, was to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles. But after delays and massive cost overruns, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced that the “bullet train” would no longer connect the two cities. [emphasis, links added]
Instead, Democrats claim they will build rail between rural Central Valley towns where there is no consumer demand.
Then-President Donald Trump canceled $1 billion in federal spending planned for the project over Newsom's objections. President Joe Biden restored funding.
But at the same time, a new private-sector-led plan was launched to connect Southern California to Las Vegas — a more lucrative idea since a quick ride to Las Vegas could Not only a mode of transportation but also a part of Sin City.
The Biden-Harris administration has increased federal spending by $6 billion. Now, Newsom is getting California tailgaters to embrace the idea, hoping to salvage what's left of the high-speed rail plan.
this san francisco chronicle Monday's report:
California leaders are ready to lay out high-speed rail tracks through the Central Valley, and on Monday they indicated where the tracks will go: south to Palmdale and connecting to Las Vegas.
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The new map would add California High Speed Rail to the regional network along with two other bullet train lines – Los Angeles' High Desert Corridor and the privately owned Brightline West line from Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga.
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Tensions heightened on Monday when Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, introduced legislation to eliminate federal funding for what he called a “failed” high-speed rail project.
Newsom championed high-speed rail as a form of job creation and investment in the state after canceling the original route. His predecessor, Gov. Jerry Brown (D), viewed high-speed rail as a way to combat climate change.
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