California lawmaker introduces bill to allow voters to nix high-speed rail project

California Assemblyman Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) last week introduced a bill that would allow the state's voters to cancel the California's high-speed rail project and redirect funds to water projects, such as storage, conveyance and desalination.

If passed, the bill would give voters a chance to terminate the rail project in the November 2016 elections and repurpose up to $8 billion to water programs, according to a press release issued by Wilk's office.

Wilk said the $68 billion project would be a "boondoggle of epic portions" if allowed to be completed.

"It's time to derail the bullet train and commit resources to preserve our most precious natural resource: water," he added.

The high-speed rail project would provide trips between San Francisco and the Los Angeles basin in less than three hours. The system eventually would extend to Sacramento and San Diego.