High Speed Rail Hearing in Washington DC

The transportation committee in the House of Representatives had a hearing about the California high speed rail.  A project that will cost an estimated $100 billion, it's a hot topic in the valley.

“First of all we don't even have that kind of money, as far as the use I’m not sure if its good. But why spend it if you don’t have it,” said Denver Woods a Fresno County Resident.

Congressman Jim Costa, a supporter of the rail, says California’s growing population will need additional transportation.  He adds, that these types of projects -are normally built and funded in sections. 

“We have six point five billion dollars to build the initial the initial hundred and thirty plus miles between Merced and Bakersfield,” said Costa.

Fresno mayor Ashley Swearengin was one of the witnesses that testified in DC.  She too supports the project, “A cost effective transportation mode that makes a profit and drastically reduces travel times between regional destinations,” said Swearengin. 

Valley farmers also have an issue with the proposed rail lines.  “High speed rail is going to go through many of our properties and cause farming to be much harder to do,” said Peter Fry, a Chowchilla farmer.

Costa says there’s a big positive that outweighs the negatives.  “Jobs that we really need, not only in California but in our Valley where we have unemployment levels of 18 and 20% or more,” he said.