LOS ANGELES — California high-speed rail officials said they plan to start the $64.2 billion project in the north, rather than in the south.
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"By constructing the line between the Silicon Valley and the Central Valley, while also making significant investments in Southern California's passenger rail systems, high-speed rail service will become a reality in this state in the next 10 years at a lower cost than previously estimated," Jeff Morales, the Authority's chief executive officer, said in a statement.
The Authority reported reduced costs of $5.5 billion resulting from value engineering, design changes and a favorable bidding environment.
But officials also plan to spend an additional $2.1 billion in Southern California to "enhance service levels in the vital Los Angeles-to-Anaheim segment," according to the report.
Recent estimates had the rail line costing close to $68 billion, but that figure has been reduced to $64.2 billion.
The southern route has costly engineering challenges such as tunneling through the Tehachapi and San Gabriel Mountains, authority officials said. But residents along the planned route between Burbank and Palmdale also staged protests last summer.
California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de Leon, a Los Angeles Democrat, said he received assurances from rail officials that substantial transportation improvements will still be made in Southern California during the first phase.
"Building high-speed rail first where infrastructure already exists benefits everyone in the long run," de Leon said.
The Authority hopes to complete the northern segment through the Silicon Valley by 2024 with operations beginning in 2025.
Revenues received after the northern segment is built will help fund the southern segment in addition to making it easier to entice a private partner to the project, Morales said.
The shift to northern California has not eliminated the rail line's hurdles.
Without support in the Legislature for the reauthorization of Assembly Bill 32, essential cap-and-trade dollars could expire in 2020. There are also unresolved lawsuits from farmers and residents.
