High-speed rail bond hits detour

State officers are expected to extend this week's deadline for bullet train legislation until the second week of July, Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani said Thursday.

Her Assembly Bill 3034 would finalize ballot language for a $10 billion high-speed rail bond going before California voters in November. Supporters envision trains reaching speeds of 225 mph between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The Livingston Democrat's bill also elevates chances for significant improvements to Altamont Commuter Express trains taken by thousands of valley residents to Bay Area jobs.

State senators are working with transportation officials and Galgiani on amendments calling for peer review based on expertise gained from bullet train systems in Europe and Asia.

Other proposed changes emphasize spending accountability and reporting requirements, Galgiani said.

"If there are risks we should be anticipating, we want to know about them before they're upon us," she said.