More Affordable High Speed Rail

Sacramento, CA — The estimated cost to build the state’s high speed rail project has dropped nearly $30 billion.

The Associated Press reports that a revised plan will be released next week, bringing the project to $68.4 billion. Cost savings will be made by updating and utilizing existing rail lines around Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. Plans for the initial stretch have also been altered, and would run from Merced to the San Fernando Valley.

The project is soon expected to go before state legislative hearings in Sacramento. Critics have dubbed it as “the train to nowhere.”

Governor Jerry Brown’s administration has remained steadfast in trying to get the project moving and off the ground.

The Mother Lode region appears to be in opposition. A recent myMotherLode.com poll question asked, “Do You Support CA’s Plan To Build A High Speed Rail System?” 72 percent said no, and 27 percent were in favor.