High-speed rail project: Politicians drop plans for re-vote initiative

SACRAMENTO (KABC) -- A state senator and a former congressman have suspended their campaign to put California's controversial funding for a statewide high-speed rail project on the ballot for a re-vote.

In 2008, California voters approved the issuance of $10 million in bonds to fund the high-speed rail project. The project has seen its estimated costs grow since then, and public support has waned.

The proposed system's current price tag is $68 billion. The project aims to link Northern, Central and Southern California by high-speed rail.

State Sen. Doug LaMalfa, a Republican from Willows, and former Republican Congressman George Radanovich announced Wednesday that they are suspending their campaign to put the state's rail bond measure to a second vote.

LaMalfa said in a statement that the so-called Revote High Speed Rail campaign was going on hiatus while farmers and others in the Central Valley sue to stop the project.

He said he hoped voters would have a chance to vote again on the rail project sometime in the future.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Get more California News »

travel, finance, budget, california news

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•