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California High Speed Rail Project Getting More Federal Funds

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal lawmakers say the state of California is getting another $902 million in federal funding to advance the design and construction of a high-speed rail system initially running from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

The funding announcement is being made in the days leading up to a high-stakes election featuring Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer and Republican Carly Fiorina. One of the key battlegrounds in that race is the Central Valley, where the vast majority of the new funding is going.

California voters approved nearly $10 billion in bonds for high-speed rail in 2008.

Boxer said high-speed rail would help boost the economy and reduce congestion and air pollution.

(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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