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By Theo Burman
Live News Reporter
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A new poll has revealed that the majority of California voters support the state's high-speed rail project, which is the largest rail initiative in the U.S.
The survey, carried out by Politico and UC Berkeley on behalf of the U.S High-Speed Rail Association, showed that 67 percent of respondents supported the project, while only 33 percent opposed it.
Why It Matters
The California high-speed rail project was initially approved by voters in a 2008 ballot initiative, though delays meant the project only entered the track-laying phase this year. Prior polling for the rails in 2022 had the project's approval at 56 percent, showing an increase in support of 11 percent over three years.
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What To Know
According to the data, a clear majority of Democrat and Independent voters continue to support the project, with 82 and 63 percent respectively saying they approved of it.
Support even remained strong among Republican voters, at 42 percent, despite the fact that many Republican lawmakers are opposed to the initiative's management.
The poll, published on Wednesday, was taken among more than 1,000 Californian voters, between April 1 and April 15.
California's Democratic leadership has continued to defend the project from critics in the federal government.
In May, President Donald Trump dismissed the project as wasteful, saying: "It's hundreds of billions of dollars for this stupid project that should have never been built. This government is not going to pay."
Trump has been a longtime skeptic of the plan and described it as a "green disaster" during his first term in office.
However, Governor Gavin Newsom fired back, with a spokesperson for the Democrat telling Newsweek: "Hard pass on fiscal tips from the self-described 'King of Debt' who ran a steak company, a casino, and a global economy—all into the ground.
"With 50 major structures built, walking away now as we enter the track-laying phase would be reckless—wasting billions already invested and letting job-killers cede a generational infrastructure advantage to China."
Newsom has since proposed investing an additional $1 billion a year in the project to ensure the track-laying, which begins this year, continues smoothly.
What People Are Saying
Reacting to the poll, Andy Kunz, the president of the U.S. High-Speed Rail Association, told Newsweek: "California voters are tired of traffic jams and airport delays. Support for the California High-Speed Rail project is growing as the state's transportation system continues to grind to a halt."
California Senator Alex Padilla, who has been a strong advocate for the rail initiative, told Newsweek: "High-speed rail is the future of transportation—with the potential to bring customers to new businesses, businesses to new employees, and to connect communities hundreds of miles away with affordable and faster transit."
What Happens Next
There is currently active construction along 119 miles of the track in the Central Valley, which makes up the first phase of the project. State lawmakers are currently deliberating on whether or not to approve Newsom's $1-billion injection.
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