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An important step in making California high-speed rail a reality has recently been announced in a California High-Speed Rail Authority press release. The announcement reveals that the authority and the Federal Railroad Administration have signed a cooperative agreement, which will allot $928 million for the first phase of high-speed rail construction. With this agreement, it is confirmed that enough funding has been secured for the design, engineering and construction of the first 130 miles of high-speed rail. Construction is now confirmed to begin in Fresno in the fall of 2012. The nearly $1 billion in funds are a combination of intercity rail and hihg-speed rail awards from October 2010 and May 2011. According to authority chairman, Thomas J. Umber, “The announcement of the federal funds makes good on the promise of our new draft business plan that the funding for the first segment is identified, committed and we are moving forward.” The Central Valley phase is planned to be completed in 5 years and will create 100,000 jobs over this span.
With the first phase of construction for California’s high-speed rail project confirmed for 2012, there will certainly be mixed reactions throughout the state. There is surely going to be a great deal of frustration, anger and disappointment for those in the Central Valley that fear high-speed rail will ruin their communities and have been protesting the project since it was first introduced. For high-speed rail supporters, the announcement is great news, especially because of the long list of funding issues and lawsuits that the project has had to overcome to get to this point. Although funding for the Central Valley is completely secured, it still must be remembered that it is only the first hurdle in making California high-speed rail a reality. Nevertheless, it should still be considered a victory for the High-Speed Rail Authority and the transportation future of California.
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