BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — At a budget meeting in the State Assembly last week, the Legislative Analyst Office told Lawmakers the project is now reporting it’s $7 billion short of what it needs by June 2026.
California Legislative Analyst Office Representative Helen Kerstein told lawmakers that there was no specific plan to meet the $7 billion gap from Merced to Bakersfield. She says that with no plan, it could come to a halt within 15 months.
The status and funding challenges of California’s high-speed rail project were the topic of discussion. The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) reported a $7 billion funding gap for the Merced to Bakersfield route with total costs estimated at $35.3 billion…