March16,2016-
After talking about opening their main administrative office in Hanford, the contractor on the CP2/3 high speed rail segment is now focusing on Selma some 7 miles away from the rail alignment to base operations.
Work is expected to begin this summer to build the $1.5 billion construction project that runs north to south through Kings County.
“They were not able to find suitable office space in Hanford” shrugs Hanford City Manager Darrel Pyle.
The company was looking for more than 20,000 square feet of professional office space to accommodate around 50 people.
California High Speed Rail spokesperson Toni Tinoco confirms that Dragados Flatiron Joint Venture is “reviewing a lease in the Selma area, but has not signed anything just yet.”
Selma seems to be the focus as the company is offering around 20 jobs on their website that will be working out of Selma.
Kings County realtor Jim Olivas says he is not surprised they could not find space in Hanford. ”Above 5000 square feet there just is not that much available.” Olivas adds that there is some strong sentiment against high speed rail in the county and that could also be a factor.
”We are the dissident capitol of the state and some might not take too kindly to the rail contractor opening an office in Downtown Hanford.”
CP 2-3 will include approximately 36 grade separations in the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kings, including viaducts, underpasses and overpasses over 60 miles total.
The rail contractor is beginning to offer subcontracts currently.
Dragados “ continues to encourage small businesses and others interested in working on the project to visit their website for employment opportunities” says Toni Tinoco.
Pyle adds that Dragodos will still open a construction yard not far from the proposed station site east of Hanford and that should mean ”lots of spending in town at restaurants and good demand for motel rooms” from the big, multi-year construction project.
Are They Done With Train Lawsuits?
Kings County’s attorney Colleen Carlson sees last week’s court ruling in favor of High Speed Rail as a victory in any case since “the 2 cases insured that the Authority has to follow the rules.” So will the Board of Supervisors decline to appeal the latest decision?
This week Carlson says the board decided not to make an announcement after their regular Tuesday meeting.”We have until May 4 to appeal” she says.
Chair Doug Verboon told Channel 30 last week that Kings County spent about $75,000 in court costs, with most of the cost being born by volunteer groups opposed to High-Speed Rail.