(A TIMES) Dan Weikel and Ralph Vartabedian, February 19, 2016 — Facing high construction costs and political opposition in Southern California, the state has decided to build the first 250-mile section of the California bullet train from San Jose to Bakersfield, rather than from Fresno to Burbank, according to officials who were briefed about the project’s new business plan.

The reversal by the California High Speed Rail Authority could result in serious financial, political and transportation consequences for Southern California, which was originally considered as the end point for the project’s initial operating segment.

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Project officials were expected to discuss the new business plan in a media briefing later Thursday.

Local officials have said that building the Fresno-to-Burbank segment would be a major economic benefit for the region, provide commuters  with 15-minute rides to the Antelope Valley and create a convenient link to the Central Valley and future high-speed trains to Las Vegas.

Source: In major shift, bullet train will start in Bay Area, not L.A. – LA Times