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Jeff Morales, the chief executive in charge of California's high speed rail project says he's stepping down after five-years. He announced that he would leave the program's top post at the rail authority in June.
Morales has been a staunch supporter of the high speed rail project in California, seeing it through a contentious period in which the project faced criticism from across the political spectrum. The announcement comes after the state announced that they successfully sold nearly $1.25 billion in bonds for the $64 billion project. The goal was reached after years of legal and political delays.
Voters approved nearly $10 billion for high speed rail as part of Prop 1A during the 2008 election. Morales said that he believed the high-speed rail project is finally in a good position and it's the right time for him to move on to another challenge.
The high-speed rail project is still on track despite political opponents promising to file a lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court to block the state from using proceeds from the bond sale for it. Federal officials could demand the state pay back the money it's received if their lawsuit is successful.