Free Republic

Sacramento, Calif. (AP) -- The estimated cost of California's high-speed rail project is rising by billions of dollars. Environmental impact studies released Tuesday and obtained in advance by The Associated Press put the cost of building the initial segment at anywhere from $10 billion to $13.9 billion. That's sharply higher than the $7.1 billion estimate from 2009 for the Merced-to-Bakersfield section. Rail board executives say the higher costs include more elevated tracks in the Central Valley and more specific data about property values. Construction is scheduled to start next year. ...