Los Angeles Engineering Jobs, Many Other Positions from High-Speed Rail

A nationwide effort to build high-speed rail lines in various states will help create Los Angeles engineering jobs and construction jobs, as well as hundreds of thousands of temporary and permanent positions throughout the state.

Officials recently announced that California will receive $2.34 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for high-speed rail projects. That is the highest amount of funding any state received from the $8 billion to be spread throughout the nation, although it is lower than the $4.7 billion the state asked for.

However, it will cost a total of $42 billion for California to build the 800 miles of train tracks, causing some critics to question whether the cost will be worth the end result. But state officials think the plan will help promote electric transportation, reduce emissions, cut down on traffic and create jobs.