Judge Allows California High-Speed Rail Project to Proceed (xpost from GD)

[KamaAina]

Source: Associated Press

Judge Allows California High-Speed Rail Project to Proceed

By JULIET WILLIAMS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Mar 8, 2016, 3:11 PM ET

A judge has ruled that California's plans for a $64 billion, high-speed rail system do not violate promises made to voters when they approved state financing for the project.

The ruling released Tuesday by Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Michael Kenny allows planning and financing of the project to proceed.

Attorneys who represent Kings County and a group of landowners had argued that the state's projections on ridership, construction and operating figures are not reliable. They asked the judge to block the state from spending money on the project.

The judge, however, said the 2008 ballot initiative specified only that the state could issue bonds to construct a high-speed rail system and did not prevent modifications to the plan given to voters.

He agreed with the plaintiffs that the California High-Speed Rail Authority has not proven the trains will be financially viable or can meet the travel times voters were promised but said the system continues to evolve so it is premature for the court to intervene.

-snip-

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-california-high-speed-rail-project-proceed-37491120

h/t Eugene

[Agnosticsherbet]

1. Outstanding. I look forward to riding it, when the times comes.

[Throd]

2. Aw shit!

He agreed with the plaintiffs that the California High-Speed Rail Authority has not proven the trains will be financially viable or can meet the travel times voters were promised.