Lawsuit Threatens California High-Speed Rail Project - FOX 35 News Orlando

Lawsuit Threatens California High-Speed Rail Project

Posted: Updated:
Los Angeles, CA -

(FOX 11) Fifteen declarations, part of a lawsuit filed on behalf Kings County and Central Valley farmers, bring out some heavy hitters. Among the declarations is one by Judge Quentin Kopp, a former state senator and superior court judge, whose legislation created the California High-Speed Rail Authority in 1996.

Kopp, who was also a chairman of the rail authority and a major force behind Prop 1-A bullet train law, says voters have been betrayed.

"The way they're propagating this so-called plan now is contrary and it's in violation of explicit and carefully debated and written provisions of Prop 1-A," he says.

Mike Brady, the lawyer for the plaintiffs, invites all Californians to read the declarations.

"Prop 1-A was an initiative and an initiative is different than a statute," he says. "No discretion is given to the Authority. None of these terms like ‘blended' or ‘phased' or ‘building part of it' is acceptable. No way. You don't get any flexibility with an initiative. So that's what they're up against. And keep in mind, these declarations are evidence of that."

Paul Jones, a high-speed rail engineer who designed three systems in Spain and Korea, says the rail authority will not be able to meet its promise to voters that the train will be able to make it from Los Angeles to San Francisco in two hours and forty minutes.

"The modifications that the rail authority have made in their design and their plans and particularly the blended approach make that time virtually impossible to achieve," says Jones.

Watch Heidi Cuda's video report on this lawsuit.

 

 

  • Features

  • Point Of View

    Friday, May 17 2013 2:28 PM EDT2013-05-17 18:28:28 GMT
    When is a bullet train… not a bullet train? KTTV Vice President and General Manager Kevin Hale shows you why even major High Speed Rail supporters.. are now changing their minds… in this P-O-V.
    When is a bullet train… not a bullet train? KTTV Vice President and General Manager Kevin Hale shows you why even major High Speed Rail supporters.. are now changing their minds… in this P-O-V.
  • FOX 11 Investigates

    Thursday, May 16 2013 8:38 PM EDT2013-05-17 00:38:27 GMT
    The name may sound benign, but "Molly" is a powdered form of MDMA, the molecular compound found in Ecstasy, and it's often laced with other highly addicted drugs.
    The name may sound benign, but "Molly" is a powdered form of MDMA, the molecular compound found in Ecstasy, and it's often laced with other highly addicted drugs.
  • LA's Most Wanted

    We are joining with the Los Angeles County Probation Department to help find and catch offenders who have violated probation and are now missing.
    We are joining with the Los Angeles County Probation Department to help find and catch offenders who have violated probation and are now missing.
  • Studio 11 LA Features

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:42 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:42:02 GMT
    A judge has officially ended more than a decade of federal oversight of the Los Angeles Police Department that was triggered by a corruption scandal involving abusive officers.
    A judge has officially ended more than a decade of federal oversight of the Los Angeles Police Department that was triggered by a corruption scandal involving abusive officers.
  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:22 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:22:53 GMT
    A homeless, hatchet-wielding hitchhiker who became an Internet celebrity earlier this year has been arrested in Philadelphia and charged with the murder of a New Jersey lawyer.
    A homeless, hatchet-wielding hitchhiker who became an Internet celebrity earlier this year has been arrested in Philadelphia and charged with the murder of a New Jersey lawyer.
  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 9:20 PM EDT2013-05-15 01:20:50 GMT
    Federal accident investigators recommended Tuesday that states cut their threshold for drunken driving by nearly half, matching a standard that has substantially reduced highway deaths in other countries.
    Federal accident investigators recommended Tuesday that states cut their threshold for drunken driving by nearly half, matching a standard that has substantially reduced highway deaths in other countries.
Powered by WorldNow

35 Skyline Drive
Lake Mary, FL 32746

Phone: (407) 644-3535
News Tips: (866) 55-FOX35

Didn't find what you were looking for?
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Fox Television Stations, Inc. and Worldnow. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Ad Choices