The US state of California has approved the first phase of construction of a much anticipated yet controversial high-speed rail project linking Los Angeles and San Francisco, officials said.
Following years of contentious debate, state senators voted 21-16 Friday to allocate about $8 billion for the initial stretch of tracks for a line that is expected to see trains speeding along at up to 220 miles an hour (355 kph).
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“The legislature took bold action today that gets Californians back to work and put California out in front once again,” Governor Jerry Brown, a Democrat and longtime proponent, said after the vote on the eve of the summer recess.
All 15 Republicans voted against the funding measure, which comes at a time when California — the most populous US state — is struggling with budget woes that have forced it to cut services.
“Closing schools for three weeks while spending $8 billion on 130 miles of train tracks defies logic and is irresponsible,” said Senate Republican leader Bob Huff.
The state’s Assembly had approved the funding Thursday in a 51-27 vote.
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The massive infrastructure proposal, initially approved by state voters in a 2008 referendum, has an estimated overall price tag of $68 billion.
Supporters say high-speed rail links in the state will reduce environmental damage, lessen the state’s dependence on foreign oil, create hundreds of thousands of jobs and give a huge boost to California businesses.
Critics call the plan an overpriced white elephant that will never get completed. They say the system will be a huge financial drain on a state already struggling to pay its bills.
The approved funding allocates $5.8 billion for the first stretch of roughly 130 miles of tracks in the state’s Central Valley, situated between Los Angeles and the state capital Sacramento.
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That includes $2.6 billion in rail bonds and $3.2 billion in federal funds. In addition, lawmakers added $2 billion to improve existing tracks.
Construction is expected to begin at the end of the year or in early 2013, Lisa Marie Burcar, spokeswoman for the California High-Speed Rail Authority, told AFP.
