Two days after the CA High Speed Rail Authority received federal environmental streamlining of the 60-mile Merced to Fresno segment, the Federal Railroad Administration announced they will do the same for the 114-mile Fresno to Bakersfield segment.
Tim Sheehan reports on the double-dose of good news the California High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) received from President Obama's "We Can't Wait" initiative that is intended to "to speed development of major transportation projects". Consequently, the FRA has been directed to to"finish its environmental review of the remaining segment of the Central Valley route, known as the ‘spine' of the CA High Speed Rail project, the Fresno-Bakersfield 114-mile section by October 2013."
Unlike the northern, 60-mile Merced to Fresno segment that has a completed environmental review by HSRA and which received expedited federal approval on Weds, Sept. 19 (see Let the Track-Laying Begin!), both the "HSRA and the FRA are working on the environmental review of the Fresno-Bakersfield section", the southern stem of the spine.
Even with the expedited federal environmental review of the southern Central Valley segment, it will be difficult to meet the federal requirement that came with the $3.3 billion in federal grants that construction for the "120-mile stretch of the route, between Madera and Bakersfield known as the Initial Construction Segment to be completed by September 2017."
"The boards of supervisors in Kings, Tulare and Kern counties and many of the cities along the Fresno-Bakersfield line have taken formal positions opposing the project. Kings County and two of its residents also are suing the state rail authority over the legality of the program."
Also reporting on the White House announcement was Michael Cabanatuan, transportation reporter of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Jeff Morales, chief executive officer of the High-Speed Rail Authority, said the order requires federal agencies to avoid delays and complete environmental reviews as fast as possible."
In addition to the high speed rail project, the White House directive will expedite a "second California project, the Water Emergency Transit Authority's planned expansion of its San Francisco ferry terminal. The $115.6 million project "would add two, and eventually three, ferry berths to the Water Emergency Transit Authority's two landings at the Ferry Building.
Thanks to David McCoard
Read the full story: Feds to streamline high-speed rail approval process
California High Speed Rail: Federal Aid Not Required
That was the message from Gov. Jerry Brown after a state appeals court unlocked a lower court's hold on $9.95 billion of state bond funds for the $68 billion project. He exchanged words with HSR opponent House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Feds to CA HSR Authority: Let The Track-Laying Begin!
The High Speed Rail Authority received a key approval from the Federal Railroad Administration to begin construction in California's Central Valley, specifically the 60-mile Merced to Fresno stretch. The remaining hurdles are several lawsuits.
Gov. Gavin Newsom to Dramatically Downsize High-Speed Rail Project
The San Francisco-to-Los Angeles bullet train may have to be renamed the Central Valley High-Speed Train according to the announcement by the new governor in his first state-of-the-state address.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement
The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.
Northwest rail fans eager for Sept. 30 debut of Amtrak’s Airo fleet
Get ready for that new train smell and more seats. But they won’t go faster or run more frequently on the Cascades route in Washington and Oregon.
Brightline Florida files for bankruptcy
The transit company is over $5 billion in debt.
St. Louis Metro to test if single-car trains can reduce operating costs, maintain rider satisfaction
The pilot program will run from October to spring 2027, and begin with one single-car train operating on Metrolink’s Red and Blue lines.
Pennsylvania is building data centers in abandoned mines
Housing data centers in mines provides an alternative to destroying local forests and may spare residents from data centers’ noise and air pollution.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello