California Bullet Train Chief Attempts to Avoid Legal Delays

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- The head of the California High-Speed Rail Authority hopes to find relief from environmental laws that could delay the construction project of a high-speed train, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Farmers in the Central Valley that could be affected by the bullet train are ready to put up a legal fight against the 130-mile-long project, which Chairman Dan Richard is trying to avoid.  At a hearing on Tuesday, Richard said he plans to use all of the $6 billion in construction money allocated for the project, which Richard hopes will be completed by the 2017 deadline. Thus, the project has no funds for legal battles.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority has already been sued twice, according to the report.  Richard had said in the past that he would not try to seek exemption from environmental laws.

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