California High Speed Rail Rejected for $15 Billion Loan
The California High-Speed Rail Authority can’t seem to solve their most pressing problem, one that has hung over them since the conception of the project. The state doesn’t know where to find all of the $64-billion it will cost to complete the bullet train that will run from San Francisco to Los Angeles. So,… Read more »
Billions to Be Unlocked After Approval By The High Speed Rail Board
Through a unanimous decision, the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s board, approved to unlock billions of dollars in state bonds funds that it needs to continue construction in the Central Valley and San Francisco-San Jose segments. The board approved $3.2 billion in funding from the nearly $10 billion that voters approved for a California high-speed… 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 »
A California Bill Just Made Using Eminent Domain Easier
Only four years after signing legislation to dissolve more than 400 redevelopment agencies, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill — AB 24942 — that just made it easier for local government to seize homes and small businesses. This recent legislation will move California closer to the old Kelo-style laws that ignited a political firestorm. Redevelopment… 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 »
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 »
California Eminent Domain Project News: CHSRA’s Proposed Palmdale to Burbank Routes Get Opposition from Southern California Cities and Residents
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 »
Rebirth of Redevelopment in California: Impairing Private Property Rights or Revitalization?
In a 63-13 vote, Assembly Bill 2, authored by Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Salinas, passed in the California State Assembly last week. The bill allows for so-called “Community Revitalization Investment Authorities” – essentially redevelopment agencies with a different title – to acquire private property through eminent domain and make it available to big developers with the… Read more »
California High Speed Rail Project: Relocation Considerations for Displaced Businesses, Farms and Non-Profits
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 »