For the second time since voters approved California's massive
bullet train project, the state on Tuesday raised the total
price tag for the first stretch by several billion dollars --
and now the cost for the entire rail line is on pace to
skyrocket to an eye-popping $60 billion to $80 billion or even
more.  The latest estimates put the cash-strapped state even
further behind in bankrolling its biggest, and one of its most
polarizing, public works plans ever, as California struggles to
secure funds from shy investors and broke governments. Still,
project officials are ramping up to spend billions of dollars to
break ground on the rail line in the Central Valley next year
and hope to find the rest of the money to pay for the system
later. It's a plan state leaders look increasingly likely to
veto.  "It could be well into $60 billion, and who knows where
it ends. This is really very serious and needs to stop in its
tracks," said state Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, chairman
of the Senate committee overseei