Competing High Speed Rail Projects

Local LA-region maglev proposal is capturing interest at the expense of $25-billion Sacramento to San Diego line.

1 minute read

June 10, 2000, 12:53 PM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


The long-planned, $25-billion, 700-mile, state high-speed rail line that could get passengers from downtown Los Angeles to downtown San Francisco in 2.5 hours is recognized by many business leaders and politicians as a huge boon to the economy. Developed by the California High-Speed Rail Authority, the plan faces a huge price tag and legal and environmental hurdles, however. Meanwhile, a local $4 billion, 70-mile magnetic levitation (maglev) route between LA, San Gabriel, Ontario, and Riverside, is the brainchild of the Southern California Association of Governments. The local rail plan, which would be a federal demonstration project and the world's first maglev passenger train, is garnering support at the expense of the state proposal.

Thanks to Chris Steins

Saturday, June 10, 2000 in The Los Angeles Times

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