High-Speed Rail Talk Coming to Lake Forest

A Lake Forest councilman wants to stop the state's high-speed rail project and has asked for the support of his colleagues.

Mayor Pro Tem Scott Voigts requested that the council discuss supporting AB 1455, a recently-proposed bill that would halt debt funding for the rail proposal.

Voters in 2008 approved Proposition 1A to use bond money to build a high-speed railway that would connect Northern and Southern California.

Voigts said that a call from Assemblywoman Diane Harkey (R-Dana Point)—the Orange County legislator who in January introduced AB 1455—prompted him to ask the council to support her efforts.

On Tuesday, the Lake Forest City Council agreed to discuss taking a stance on the bill at a meeting in the near future.

Harkey has been a vocal opponent of building high-speed rail, arguing that the bankrupt state can ill afford to spend billions on the project.

Harkey represents the 73rd Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes the communities of Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Oceanside, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.

A coauthor on AB 1455 is Assemblyman Don Wagner, who represents the 70th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Aliso Viejo, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Newport Beach and Tustin.

Voigts is a member of Wagner's staff.