What Happens If The Bullet Train Fails?

Posted & filed under California Eminent Domain Law Blog, California Eminent Domain Project News, In the News.

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 »

High-Speed Rail Project Becoming More and More Expensive

Posted & filed under California Eminent Domain Law Blog, California Eminent Domain Project News, In the News, Just Compensation, Retaining an Attorney.

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 »

California Supreme Court Restores Public Agencies’ Ability to Conduct Surveys Without First Filing Eminent Domain

Posted & filed under California Eminent Domain Law Blog, California Eminent Domain Project News, Eminent Domain Law, In the News, The Eminent Domain Process, The Power of Eminent Domain.

On Thursday of last week, the California Supreme Court in the case Property Reserve, Inc. v. Superior Court of San Joaquin County ruled that government officials don’t need to go through a formal eminent domain process before they can survey private property. This decision reverses the ruling made by the Court of Appeal, which concluded… Read more »

New November Ballot Initiative Could Stop High Speed Rail Project Dead in Its Tracks

Posted & filed under California Eminent Domain Law Blog, California Eminent Domain Project News, In the News.

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 »

California Eminent Domain Project News: Initial Segment of High Speed Rail Reduced by 8 Miles

Posted & filed under California Eminent Domain Project News.

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 »

California Eminent Domain Project News: CHSRA’s Proposed Palmdale to Burbank Routes Get Opposition from Southern California Cities and Residents

Posted & filed under California Eminent Domain Project News.

Opposition to the California High Speed Rail project is growing as Southern Californians’ concerns appear to be increasing over the proposed routes for the $68 billion bullet train’s Palmdale to Burbank segment. Approximately 300 city officials and residents from various Southern California cities attended California High Speed Rail Authority’s (“CHSRA”) Board meeting on Tuesday in… Read more »

California High Speed Rail Project: Relocation Considerations for Displaced Businesses, Farms and Non-Profits

Posted & filed under Eminent Domain Law, Just Compensation.

The California High Speed Rail project has been slowly, but surely, picking up its pace of property acquisition in the Central Valley. So far, the State Public Works Board has adopted 192 resolutions of necessity declaring the CHSRA’s intent to file eminent domain actions in court to acquire properties.  Last month alone, CHSRA approved resolutions… Read more »

California Eminent Domain Project News: CHSRA Updates State Legislature on the Bullet Train Project

Posted & filed under California Eminent Domain Project News.

This week, the California High Speed Rail Authority issued its biannual Project Update Report to the State Legislature.  The report provides a synopsis of the Authority’s funding, environmental review, land acquisition (eminent domain), and construction activities for the California High Speed Rail Project.     Of note, the Authority advises that the Project’s first operating segment… Read more »

California Eminent Domain Project News: More Condemnation Approvals: California High Speel Rail Gears Up for More Acquisitions

Posted & filed under California Eminent Domain Project News.

On Wednesday, the State Public Works Board approved approximately 160 parcels between Fresno and Kings Counties for acquisition for the high-speed rail project. The California High Speed Rail Authority (“CHSRA”) requested acquisition of the 160 parcels which, in addition to several hundred other parcels, they believe are necessary for the construction of the rail project…. Read more »

California Eminent Domain Project News: Update, CHSRA’s Petition Denied by Appeals Court: Next Stop, Trial

Posted & filed under California Eminent Domain Project News, In the News, Uncategorized.

Late Tuesday, three justices with the Third District Court of Appeals denied the California High Speed Rail Authority’s (CHSRA) petition asking the court to overturn a decision by the Sacramento County Superior Court. The Superior court had ordered a trial on one part of an ongoing lawsuit between Kings County farmer John Tos, Hanford homeowner… Read more »