Legal News

Judge's environmental report ruling gums up high-speed rail project

By Richard Binder

Judge Michael Kenny called into question the environmental report backing a controversial high-speed rail project yesterday, calling it "inadequate" because it failed to address Union Pacific's recent announcement that it would not allow the speedy trains to run along its tracks between Gilroy and San Jose.

Both sides are claiming victory. Opponents are cheering the ruling because they hope it will renew calls for alternative routes. Supporters say the judge's decision only strengthens their position because it describes other routes, such as over the Altamont Pass and across San Francisco Bay, as too expensive.

The ruling could significantly delay the $40 billion project and add billions more to its price tag.  Attorneys for each side said they will need time to decipher the ruling and what the next step will be. It is possible the environmental report will need to be reworked, a potentially time-consuming task.

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Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on August 27, 2009 (boomark / email).