(The following story appeared on the Pasadena Star-News website on June 24.)
PASADENA, Calif. — Lawmakers sent the governor legislation Thursday to delay for two years a public vote on nearly $10 billion in high-speed rail bonds.
By a 60-3 vote, the Assembly approved a bill by Sen. Kevin Murray, D-Culver City, that would postpone the vote until November 2006. The proposal is on November’s ballot, but supporters fear that it could fail without the delay because of voter concern about the state’s budget deficits.
If approved by voters, the proposal would authorize the sale of $9.95 billion in state bonds.
Most of the money $9 billion would be used to help pay for a high-speed rail line that would link Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno and San Francisco with trains running at top speeds of more than 200 mph.
When completed, the 700-mile system would also stretch to Sacramento and San Diego.
The rest of the bond money $950 million would be used for improvements to light rail and conventional intercity passenger service.