Just yesterday [Mar. 14, 2024] I watched a news report having to do with the California high-speed railroad. According to what I heard, the most recent figures have the project between Los Angeles and San Francisco pegged at $135 billion and that’s for 520 miles of state HSR line, $35 billion just for the 171-mile-long section connecting Merced and Bakersfield in the Golden State’s San Joaquin Valley alone.
One politician — Republican State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones — it should be noted is calling for the state HSR project’s discontinuance. Work is currently underway on 119 miles of right-of-way between Poplar Road in Shafter in the south Valley and the Fresno River viaduct in the north Valley in Madera County. Add to this the right-of-way work nearly completed on the 22.5 miles between Poplar and the Kern-Kings county line; also known as Construction Package 4.
What about the boosts to the local, regional and state economies that this project is bringing? This also should not be lost site of. Building a heavy maintenance facility and train storage yard in the Valley will only add to the value and bring many additional good-paying jobs. How there are those who cannot see the value in the effort’s continuance is just beyond me.
With so much infrastructure having already been built, what sense would it make to throw in the towel and just walk away? Honestly! I mean if we’re for being real here.
So, even with the increased cost, would it not be better with the amount of related infrastructure already constructed (at 20 some sites) to just stay the course, spend the $35 billion and get a true high-speed rail corridor built between Bakersfield and Merced?
If nothing else, at least complete the job that was started on the Valley portion!