SACRAMENTO, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- The California High-Speed Rail Authority released a new business plan Tuesday that stretches out construction time and triples the project's estimated cost.
The cost of construction would be $98.5 billion, three times the estimate in 2008 when voters authorized the project in a referendum, the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury-News reported. The authority said delaying some of the construction was one reason for the higher cost, along with inflation and the requirement of more expensive bridges and tunnels.
The plan calls for high-speed trains connecting California's major cities from Sacramento, San Francisco and San Jose to Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Diego. Service from San Francisco to Anaheim was originally scheduled to begin in 2020 but that could be put off until 2034, with other parts of the system completed first.
Gov. Jerry Brown, a supporter of high-speed rail, praised the new business plan.
"The High-Speed Rail Authority's business plan is solid and lays the foundation for a 21st century transportation system," he said.
Critics said the new plan proves their point.
"Even before the first shovel of dirt has turned, the cost estimates have nearly tripled. The high-speed rail is a boondoggle that needs to be derailed," said Senate Republican Leader Bob Dutton, who represents a San Bernardino County district in Southern California.
The authority hopes to get $20 billion in federal aid. Potential revenue sources in the business plan include advances from local governments on future revenues like parking fees.
