So, CA citizens were told, in no uncertain terms that the State needed to borrow, from the tax payers, around 9 Billion, for a High speed Rail project, L.A. <--> SF in the blink of an eye, and that should be less than 40million, with the rest coming from private investers, as well as the Fed. Please vote for it. Well, the gullable citizens bought it, and passed it
Well guess what, the latest #'s put the project at somewhere around 140 Billion, with nothing coming from private investers, a trickle from the Fed, and the rest........from the tax payers.
Now, in order for the state to receive Fed $$'s, that was promised by Obama, CA needs to start construction by next Fall. So, where are they starting?....Los Angeles?....Oakland.....Anaheim? Nope, somewhere between Bakersfield & Chowchilla, out in the middle of no where, in the San Joaquin Valley. That's where they're going to start using some of the original bond money to start construction.
HOWEVER
That money is specifically to be used towards a High Speed Rail system. The current project that's to get started, in order to garner the Fed $$'s, is NOT. It will not be electrified, it will be standard track and rail, with no plans for it being electrified, at any time in the forseeable future
So, does the State of CA and this High Speed Rail Authority have a legal leg to stand on, in using bond money specifically set aside in constructing high speed rail, to construct standard rail??