In Transit: What’s the Status of California’s High-Speed Rail Project?

How soon will Californians be able to travel between Los Angeles and San Francisco by high-speed rail? In welcome news, the California High-Speed Rail Authority received nearly $3.1 billion in federal funding last month to advance work on the project. Environmental reviews are largely complete for the 500-mile route, and construction has begun on bridges and tunnels in the Central Valley. But the cost for the entire project is now expected to reach $128 billion, four times higher than was estimated when voters first approved it in 2008. In this installment of our In Transit series, we speak to the CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority to get updates and take your questions.