Survey Supporting Rail to L.A. Called Into Question
California's High Speed Rail Authority team plans to visit Washington D.C. Wednesday and Thursday, working to secure federal funding for the $43 billion, 800-mile system. A new survey commissioned by the agency shows support for the project, but there are questions about the survey's accuracy.
The Deputy Executive Director of California's High Speed Rail Authority, Jeff Barker cites a recent survey the agency commissioned of 800 registered voter. He says 76 percent say they want the system, and would choose the rail over flying or driving if the tickets cost less. Barker says the rail authority's new C.E.O. is bringing that information to D.C.
"The largest challenge in front of us is to secure federal funding and in turn to develop private funding," said Barker. "It's important to be able to tell our counterparts in D.C. that the state is firmly in support of the project."
Opponents of the project have consistently questioned the Authority's estimates of ridership and ticket costs.
A recent UC Berkeley study also called the statistical process the agency used flawed and unreliable. Still, the agency stands by its numbers.
