WASHINGTON — Most registered voters in California continue to support the state’s high speed rail project, despite delays and increased cost, according to a poll released earlier this month.
The survey conducted by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and the Los Angeles times found 56% of voters continue to support the project, even if it is only operating in the state’s Central Valley by 2030 and does not reach the San Francisco Bay Area until 2033.
Support varies widely by political party affiliation, with 73% of Democrats in support and 18% against; 54% of independent voters in favor and 37% opposed, and 66% percent of Republicans opposed with 25% in favor.
“This poll confirms what we’ve believed for a long-time – that the great majority of Californians want electrified high-speed rail to help them alleviate congestion, avoid high gas prices, and address the climate crisis,” Ray LaHood, former U.S. Transportation Secretary and co-chair of the U.S. High-Speed Rail Coalition, said in a press release.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has submitted a $4.2 billion budget request to fund ongoing construction work in the Central Valley and advance additional contracts for the project. That money represents the remaining funding from the ballot initiative approved by voters in 2008.
Most recent estimates place the cost of completing the project at $105 billion, up from an original estimate of $42 billion.
Full results of the poll, which addressed a number of issues in the state, are available here.
Share this article
