On Wednesday, backers of California's embattled $68 HSR project were grilled by the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, Jeff Denham (R-Turlock), who wants to kill it.
At stake is not new federal funding for high speed rail, of which there is none listed in the omnibus bill unveiled Monday for California (nor for any other state for that matter), but existing funds promised to the California project.
"Six lawmakers from California testified before their own colleagues at the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing, with Republicans -- led by Turlock's Jeff Denham -- opposing the project and Democrats including Fresno's Jim Costa generally supporting it," writes Curtis Tate of The Bee's Washington Bureau.
The Federal Railroad Administration has continued to make payments on its $3 billion commitment to the project. Denham questioned whether the Obama administration should continue to make those payments until the legal issues are resolved. He introduced legislation, H.R. 3893 [readers can vote and send email to Congress members via Popvox] to suspend the federal spending.
Denham targeted FRA Deputy Administrator Karen Hedlund (see her testimony) as well as the California High Speed Rail Authority's chairman, Dan Richard. Both assured lawmakers "that there was no reason to stop federal payments to the project in spite of the setbacks."
However, "the state faces an April deadline to make a $180 million payment required to keep the federal money coming." That deadline explains what perhaps was mistermed here as a Hail Mary pass to keep the project alive by funding it with $250 million from the state's cap and trade fund [PDF] intended to reduce carbon emissions. However, that allocation must be approved by the legislature.
The hearing did bring out support for the project as well. Backers pointed to the fact that "criticism was less about substance and more about politics. Republicans widely oppose Obama's high-speed rail program, and the entire economic stimulus," writes Tate.
Unlike Republican governors in Florida, Wisconsin and Ohio who rejected federal stimulus funds for high speed rail, Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown remains a stalwart backer of the Los Angeles to San Francisco project despite recent setbacks.
FULL STORY: Battle of words over high-speed rail erupts on Capitol Hill
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.