Uproar Over Bond Funds Benefiting Railroads

"A proposal by the Schwarzenegger administration to use $170 million in voter-approved bond money for projects benefiting two private railroads is drawing ire from Southern California officials who want the funds for road improvements and other projects."

The funds are part of the $2-3 billion Trade Corridor Improvement Fund of Prop 1B, Nov. 2006.

"State transportation officials said in a recent report that Colton, in San Bernardino County, is "a major choke point that adversely impacts rail freight and has delayed implementation of additional passenger rail improvements."

"The biggest project in the package calls for the construction of a 1.4-mile railroad bridge that would eliminate a bottleneck in Colton" where Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks cross.

"The Colton project would cost $148 million, with the two railroads picking up half the bill and the rest coming from Proposition 1B money.

Another proposal involves spending $43 million to cover half the cost of providing extra tracks and improved tunnels for Union Pacific trains over Donner Pass in Northern California. The third project would use $53 million to cover half the cost of expanding the tracks and tunnels used by Burlington Northern SF over Tehachapi Pass."

"We think the intent of Proposition 1B was for public interchanges and not for the use of the railroad industry," said San Bernardino County Supervisor on behalf of the San Bernardino Associated Governments. "The group has asked the state commission to use the transportation bond money to improve freeways and provide grade separations at rail crossings."

Thanks to Clyde L. Anderson