The 3 member federal Surface Transportation Board June 13 has issued a decision authorizing the CHSRA to construct a 65-mile high-speed passenger rail line between Merced and Fresno, Cal., which will be the first section of the planned statewide California High-Speed Train System. The split 2 to 1 ruling allows the this first segment of the 800 mile line to use almost $3.5 billion in federal funds to move to construction as soon as next month.
The authorization is subject to environmental conditions and the condition that CHSRA build the route designated by the Federal Railroad Administration as environmentally preferable.
The board said the ruling would be in effect in15 days allowing the controversial project to break ground in July.
In their deliberations the board referred to discussion of the potential loss of Amtrak stations in Kings County, an issue brought up Kings County officials who oppose the project.
“But new and more efficient service will become available for many more passengers. Overall, the public using passenger rail service will be the beneficiaries of more, and not less, passenger service as a result of the proposed Project, as the goals and intent of the Project are to create better options for more passengers, with improved service” reasoned the board.