Looking at Prop. 1A

After getting bumped from two earlier ballots, bullet-train measure Proposition 1A finally goes before voters who will decide whether to back a nearly $10 billion bond to begin plans for an electrical, high-speed rail whisking passengers between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Sue Doyle in the Daily News.

The measure would give $9.95 billion to the California High Speed Rail Authority for planning, design and initial construction of a $40 billion, 800-mile passenger train from Union Station in Los Angeles to San Francisco. Future connections are planned for Anaheim, Sacramento and San Diego, but do not include a link with Los Angeles International Airport.

But the 220-mph bullet train needs at least $10 billion in federal money - and masses of private investment - before it starts zipping Californians up and down the state and thinning traffic on the highways.