Does the High Speed Rail Have Enough Funding?
Demand for the California pollution permits rebounded in the latest carbon auction after plummeting earlier this year, according to an article in The OC Register. However, the permits did not sell out. Buyers purchased just 88% of available credits, whose sales are meant to supply funding for the high-speed rail project. This is a… Read more »
What Happens If The Bullet Train Fails?
There’s a possibility that California’s bullet train project never gets beyond the current work in the San Joaquin Valley — a couple of stations and about 100 miles of track. The high speed rail project is having trouble securing the funding for the $68 billion project, and that, of course, could mean the demise of… Read more »
Proposition 53 Threatens Major California Projects, Including High Speed Rail
The political arena in California heated up over the last week as Gov. Gerry Brown stepped up his campaign against Proposition 53, which will be on the Nov. 8 ballot. Dean Cortopassi, a wealthy Central Valley farmer and tomato cannery owner, contends that proposition 53 is necessary because politicians refuse to either fully disclose or… Read more »
Critics of the High-Speed Rail Score Wins in Legislative Efforts
Two bills aimed at the controversial bullet-train program created a significant win for critics of California’s high-speed rail project. Recently, Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 940 — a bill by state Sen. Andy Vidak, R-Hanford. In the event land taken through eminent domain or purchased by the state for right of way is no… Read more »
High-Speed Rail Project Becoming More and More Expensive
A series of events over the last month has increased the cost of the high-speed rail project. First, the relocation of Highway 99 in Fresno — a key part of the project — is six months behind schedule and, according to Caltrans’ most recent projections, is going to cost an extra $35 million above previous… Read more »
New November Ballot Initiative Could Stop High Speed Rail Project Dead in Its Tracks
The No Blank Check Initiative, which is set for the November, 2016 ballot, would give voters the right to decide whether to fund — with revenue bonds — projects that cost more than $2 billion. If passed, this would put the funding for the high-speed rail project up for another vote. Revenue bonds are… Read more »
Rail Authority Proposing Plan to Link to Merced in Initial Operating Segment
Approval of a revised California High-Speed Rail proposal was put on hold Thursday, as board officials wanted more time for state officials to calm the lawmakers and citizens that are upset about the decision to send the trains to the San Jose area instead of Los Angeles. The rail authority now intends to link Merced… Read more »
Lawmakers Scrutinizing the Viability of High Speed Rail Project
The new California High-Speed Rail Authority business plan that was released last month went before the Assembly Transportation Committee this week. After the California Rail Authority failed to secure enough funds to connect Los Angeles to the future bullet train, the plan now calls for a cheaper segment, from San Jose to the Central Valley,… Read more »
California Project News: California May Take 300 Farms by Eminent Domain for Delta Tunnel Project
The state of California has recently disclosed plans to acquire farmland for an unapproved waterway project that intends to divert water from parts of the Sacramento River. The Delta Waterway Tunnel Project (also known as the “Bay Delta Conservation Plan” or “California Waterfix”) is intended to provide water from Northern California to Southern California. This… Read more »
California Eminent Domain Project News: Initial Segment of High Speed Rail Reduced by 8 Miles
A settlement agreement between the City of Bakersfield and California High Speed Rail Authority (“CHSRA”) has resulted in an eight mile reduction of the initial 130-mile segment of the high speed rail in part of the Central Valley. Last December, CHSRA and the City of Bakersfield settled a lawsuit brought by Bakersfield city officials concerning… Read more »