加州将建美国首条高铁

美国加州参议院上周以21票对16票通过了一项高速铁路资金提案，这条全长209公里的铁路向两端延伸后将连接洛杉矶和旧金山两大城市，形成美国国内首条高速铁路，总造价预计在680亿美元左右。批评人士认为这样的高铁是财政浪费，而支持者则表示这是必要的基础设施建设，而且还能缓解人口增长导致的路面和航空交通压力。加州州长布朗曾为该项目做过大量游说工作，提案通过后加州将开始发售26亿美元的债券为高铁第一阶段融资，同时还将获得32亿美元的联邦政府资金支持。

California lawmakers have approved financing for a bullet train that would eventually become part of the first dedicated high-speed line in the US.

In a 21-16 vote, the Senate approved a 130 mile (209km) stretch, part of a larger line proposed to run from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

Critics say the train is a wasteful expense, while supporters say it is a necessary infrastructure project.

The final cost of the completed LA-San Francisco line is estimated at $68bn.

Governor Jerry Brown had lobbied intensely for the train. After he signs the bill - expected to be a formality - California will begin selling $2.6bn in bonds to finance the first segment.

The financing was approved by California's lower house, the Assembly, on Thursday.

"The legislature took bold action today that gets Californians back to work and puts California out in front once again," Mr Brown said in a statement after the Senate vote.

'Fiscal train wreck'

The vote on Friday also allows California to use $3.2bn in federal financing. The state will have more federal funds because several states turned down money for high-speed rail projects.

Senate Republicans argued California's budget - currently projected to be $16bn in the red - has already been hit too hard to approve the funding.

"This is a colossal fiscal train wreck for California," Republican Senator Tony Strickland said during debate. "Members, this bill is spending money we simply don't have here in California."

Many Democrats said high-speed rail was essential to the state's future, including dealing with population growth.

"There could not conceivably be enough freeway lanes to manage another 50% in automobiles," Senator Mark Leno said. "There couldn't possibly be enough runway space to accommodate an increase in 50% of additional air passengers."

Some business leaders from the San Francisco Bay and Silicon Valley areas supported the measure and had been working to lobby legislators in recent weeks.

Bay Area Council president Jim Wunderman called the vote a "courageous step forward for California's future".