Subway Extension Focus of San Francisco Mayoral Race

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Hours until voters in San Francisco heads of the polls to choose in -- -- main issue on many voters' minds there.

At plans for a subway extension of some -- demanding the city put the brakes in the project and it.

And it's fast rising cost -- a lot of folks here is the wants of the -- -- by a -- is live there with more on this cloudy.

Well -- it is a massive public works projects that could end with a visionary subway or as some are calling it.

A train to nowhere.

The central subways or rail extension less than two miles long connecting outlying neighborhoods to union square and Chinatown.

Voters approved the project in 2003 to replace an earthquake damaged freeway when the cost was 647.

Million dollars today it's one point six billion.

With the lion's share of the -- still to come from the federal government.

And the civil grand jury report concluding the project is poorly designed and cost too much money for too little benefit the.

Costs of this project has doubled.

This in the last few years out about a billion dollars per mile the central subway has become the most divisive issue in the city's mayoral campaign.

That's a political hot potato because.

In these difficult times to question is -- we can we afford it we're.

And in order to deal with all of this incredible.

Demand for transit it's critical that we build essential subway to connect different -- So you know.

The public debate here could hinge on a policy debate in Washington.

-- house lawmakers are considering an appropriations -- that could strip all federal funds from the central subway.

And leave San Francisco taxpayers millions of dollars in the hole.

Even so the digging has begun tunneling is set to start next -- and supporters are hopeful that the next -- chosen in tomorrow's.

Election here in San Francisco we'll keep this project on track to open in 2018.

-- had not current front runner mayor -- running for reelection says he is firmly on board.

-- -- -- city known for its cable cars then putting the trains underneath the streets and these have been brand new.

After severance and -- Claudia thank you very much.

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