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Preliminary findings of an "economic growth study" show building a high-speed rail system in California would be the most efficient way to accommodate an anticipated 54 percent population growth during the next 30 years.



Conducted by Cambridge Systematics Inc., the study is one element of California High Speed Rail Authority’s environmental review process to assess the proposed 700-mile system. It compares economic impacts of three potential transportation solutions: building a high-speed system, not building any additional transportation infrastructure and expanding the existing freeways and airports.



The findings also show a high-speed system would create more jobs, attract more business, create less sprawl and use less land than expanding the existing infrastructure.



The authority expects the draft environmental report to be released in August.



In November 2004, Californians are scheduled to vote on a $9.95 billion bond issue on the statewide ballot to fund the system’s first phase.