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    Back to Which Way, L.A.?

    Which Way, L.A.?

    Is High Speed Rail Too Big a Gamble for California?

    Based on plans laid in 1996, California voters in 2008 approved almost $10 billion in bonds to begin building a bullet-train system to connect the state's major cities. The ballot argument promised hundreds of thousands of jobs, a billion in annual profit and no need for state taxpayer subsidies.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Based on plans laid in 1996, California voters in 2008 approved almost $10 billion in bonds to begin building a bullet-train system to connect the state's major cities. The ballot argument promised hundreds of thousands of jobs, a billion in annual profit and no need for state taxpayer subsidies. The Obama Administration has come up with $3.5 billion in federal money and construction is set to begin next year on 100 miles of track between Fresno and Bakersfield. But numerous experts and agencies are saying it's time for another look before it's too late.

    The full episode

    1 of 3
    Is High Speed Rail Too Big a Gamble for California?
    1. 0:00Is High Speed Rail Too Big a Gamble for California?You’re reading this
    2. 18:31More Layoffs at the LA Times
    3. 25:50How Is America Reacting to the Debt Ceiling Drama?
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

      Sonya Geis

      Senior Managing Editor

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Lance Williams

      Center for Investigative Reporting

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jeff Barker

      California High Speed Rail Authority

    • KCRW placeholder

      Richard Tolmach

      California Rail Foundation

      News

    The full episode

    1 of 3
    Is High Speed Rail Too Big a Gamble for California?
    1. 0:00Is High Speed Rail Too Big a Gamble for California?You’re reading this
    2. 18:31More Layoffs at the LA Times
    3. 25:50How Is America Reacting to the Debt Ceiling Drama?
    Back to Which Way, L.A.?