LAS VEGAS, NV (KXNT) - Work on a proposed high-speed rail service that would shuttle passengers from Las Vegas to Victorville has been put on hold.
The key issue? Money, of course.
Officials want to make sure the federal government is totally on board before moving forward.
The California Debt Limit Allocation Committee (CDLAC) on Wednesday tabled a vote on issuing $300 million in tax exempt bonds for the project. They'll take up the matter again on February 12th. The CDLAC cited an upcoming review of the project’s final environmental impact statement by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
Virgin Trains USA, who would operate the train, still says its tracks are about three years away from being operational. Officials say the high-speed rail project is also expected to create more than 20,000 construction jobs, including 600 permanent positions.
The FRA initially approved the project back in 2011, but changes in the design of the project have caused the group to take another look.