Bakerfield Californian, January 28, 2010 (Source)
President Barack Obama's State of the Union shout-out for high-speed rail will now translate into $2.25 billion to help build a system connecting Anaheim and San Francisco through the San Joaquin Valley, as well as additional funds for other rail projects.
The grant announced Thursday will help create 9,000 to 15,000 jobs in the valley over the next two years, employing everybody from engineers to clerical workers, Fran Florez, a California High-Speed Rail Authority commissioner, said Thursday.
California had applied for $4.7 billion, but state officials were satisfied with the grant, which represents more than a fourth of the money awarded nationwide.
"This award is fantastic news for California and for our state's high-speed rail project," California High-Speed Rail Authority Chairman Curt Pringle said in a statement.
But the state still has to raise billions of dollars more to finish the Anaheim-to-San Francisco first phase, estimated to cost $42.6 billion.
The authority has a $9 billion voter-approved bond at its disposal, but is counting on matching the money with a total of up to $19 billion in federal money by 2016, according to a recent review of the plan by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office, which called the expectation "highly uncertain."
Additional money would come from private and local investments.
The grant includes $2.25 billion to begin work on four corridors: Los Angeles-to-Anaheim, Fresno-to-Bakersfield, Fresno-to-Merced and San Francisco-to-San Jose.
The money will help purchase rights of way, lay track, improve stations and complete environmental and engineering documents.
"As is typical of California, they have been way ahead of the curve," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. "People have been working on and dreaming about high speed rail for more than a decade and they were willing to put some of their own tax dollars up to help fund it."
Another big high-speed rail decision impacting the valley is right around the corner. Rail Authority officials could decide as soon as March where in the valley to locate a heavy maintenance facility to store, repair and maintain the trains.
That project will be a big job producer.
Fifteen applications from around the valley have been submitted, including three from Kern County, Florez said. The Kern proposed sites are around Shafter, Wasco and Meadows Field.
Three such facilities will be built statewide, Florez said.
Authority and federal railroad officials are poring over applications.
California also is receiving from the feds $99 million for smaller corridors serving conventional trains.
California officials had touted their project as "the only true high-speed train," with top speeds of more than 200 mph.
The first phase of the state project will extend about 520 miles from San Francisco to Anaheim, with the goal of completion by 2020. Phase II would extend the system north to Sacramento and south to San Diego by 2026.
Twenty-four states submitted 45 different corridor applications for high-speed rail funding, which was included as part of the economic stimulus package approved last February.
Transportation Department officials have insisted the funding decisions would be merit-based. Even so, lawmakers have been pressing hard behind the scenes for their preferred routes.
