REGION: Governor's vow could derail high-speed rail

Legislative fix sought to spread bond money around

By DAVE DOWNEY - Staff Writer | Friday, August 8, 2008 8:26 PM PDT ∞

The state budget stalemate could derail legislation that would ensure San Diego and Riverside counties get a crack at a portion of the $9 billion set aside for a high-speed rail line in a November ballot measure.

After several delays going back six years, the bond that was intended to jump-start construction of the 800-mile network finally is set to go to voters in November in the form of Proposition 1.

The plan is to connect California's major urban regions with speedy trains traveling as fast as 200 mph. Between Los Angeles and San Diego, the tracks are proposed to run through Riverside, Murrieta and Escondido along Interstates 215 and 15.

However, as written, the proposition would focus spending on tracks between Los Angeles and San Francisco ---- a piece some have called the backbone of the eventual statewide system. That focus bothered politicians in communities south of Los Angeles and east of San Francisco.

With their support, Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani, D-Livingston, introduced Assembly Bill 3034 to spread the money around the state.

The bill passed out of the Senate on Thursday and is expected to easily clear the Assembly on Monday.

But with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's vow this week not to sign any bills until the Legislature sends him a budget, the legislation now appears doomed.

"The governor said he will not sign any bill until we have a budget. And he also said that means that some good bills won't be signed," said Aaron McLear, the governor's press secretary, in a telephone interview Friday. "This will be one of those bills."

California is the only state with a fiscal year beginning July 1 that remains without a spending plan.

Lawmakers failed to meet their constitutionally mandated June 15 deadline to pass a budget.

Gary Gallegos, executive director of the San Diego Association of Governments, San Diego County's regional transportation agency, said the governor would be making a mistake in refusing to sign the legislation, one that could set back an already delayed project for many more years.

"It would be sad if he didn't sign this because it is going to go on the ballot anyway," Gallegos said. "And if it goes on the ballot as it is, there may not be much reason for people in places like San Diego to vote for the measure. If it is just for L.A. to San Francisco, why would a San Diegan vote for it?"

The measure hasn't been polling well as it is. According to a recent Field Poll, just 56 percent of likely California voters planned to vote for it.

Temecula Mayor Mike Naggar expressed similar concerns.

"Unless we can ensure that a certain amount of money will be coming to Southern California, you know what, it can be delayed as far as I'm concerned," Naggar said.

Naggar noted that Southern California perennially is one of the nation's fastest-growing regions and Riverside County has been the state's fastest-growing county for several years in a row.

"Let's be honest, the need is down in Southern California," he said. "So you've got to ask yourself, 'Why is the money going up there when the need is down here?' I'm not saying don't fund anything to the north. But the idea that we might only get a few crumbs from the table doesn't make any sense."

Galgiani, however, clung to hope that the governor would make an exception in this case.

"This is a proposition that is subject to different deadlines than legislative bills," Galgiani said. "Bills can be put on hold. This can't ---- because what is at risk is confusing the voters."

According to Secretary of State Debra Bowen, 5 p.m. Monday is the deadline for signing legislation that changes measures already on the ballot, such as the rail bond.

If that deadline passes, there would be a fallback position: Galgiani still could get a new measure on the ballot. But instead of taking the place of Prop. 1, it would compete with the existing bond measure. And Galgiani said she doesn't like the prospect of having dueling measures on the ballot that confuse voters.

If it gets to that point, she said, "I may just pull the bill altogether."

Besides angling for their fair share, regional transportation officials have been stressing that money should be spread throughout the state to ease congestion in the fastest-growing commuting corridors, including I-15 between Temecula and San Diego, and to anchor the state's bid to lead the world in reversing climate change. Transportation is the source of 40 percent of California's greenhouse gas emissions, which scientists blame for the warming planet.

The ballot measure would issue $9.95 billion in bonds ---- $9 billion for the high-speed rail system and $950 million for improvements to existing regional train lines, such as the one along the North County coast.

The $9 billion is only a fraction of the $45 billion state officials say is needed to build the fast train system. Galgiani said federal and private funding would be sought to fill the gap.

Contact staff writer Dave Downey at (760) 745-6611, Ext. 2623, or ddowney@nctimes.com.