The California High Speed Rail Authority board has accepted a new revision to the bullet train’s original plan, stating that the railway section stretching from Central Valley to San Jose will now be completed first, before the high speed rail reaches Southern California, according to U.S. News.
The railway connecting Central Valley and San Jose will cost an estimated $21 billion. Those in favor of this new plan suggest that funding for the bullet train has not been as solid as originally hoped, reported U.S. News, and completing the Central Valley to San Jose section first could create jobs, while at the same time providing a functional and “useable” route.
Madera and Merced officials also argued in favor of the revised plan, as it would ensure that these two counties are included on the high-speed railway’s map. After announcing this past winter that Madera and Merced would possibly not be included in the bullet train routes, officials complained, but the revised plan brings promising prospects for the counties.
Baruch Feigenbaum, a contributing writer at the Orange County Register, noted in the Opinion section of the paper that Central Valley officials gave their full support to the new plan. The overflow of support may come from the fact that the revised plan could draw more government state jobs to the Central Valley.
“We need to look at this as a tool to help us rebuild many of these cities in the Central Valley,” said Dan Richard, chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, as quoted in the Orange County Register.
Despite Richard’s enthusiasm, others note that the train’s main purpose since its conception was not to rebuild cities but to transport people quickly, noted Feigenbaum.
Moreover, putting off the construction of Southern California’s bullet train railway segments threw some California officials into distress. Some began wondering whether or not Los Angeles would ever see the bullet train.
The CEO of California’s High-Speed Rail Authority, Jeff Morales, assured the officials that $4 billion would be put into Southern California to prepare that section of the state for the high-speed train. Los Angeles will eventually house the train, promised Morales.
“While San Jose may get trains first, you’re likely to see dollars first in Los Angeles County and in Anaheim,” said Richard, as quoted in U.S. News.
The railway connecting the Central Valley to San Jose should be completed around 2025.
Taking both the good and the bad into consideration, Gov. Jerry Brown continues to support the bullet train, as he believes it has the potential to reduce carbon emissions and help the environment, according to U.S. News.
“If we continue to receive funds, we can open America’s first operating high-speed rail and connect two really important regions of the state,” said Richard, as quoted in the Orange County Register.
If you think your property or business may be taken for the high speed rail project, you can learn more about your options by giving us a call at (866) EM-DOMAIN.