High-Speed Rail Comes to Allensworth

  

At their December 20, 2010 board meeting the California High-Speed Rail Authority voted to committee matching state funds to the additional $616 million Federal High-Speed Rail Support funds – which were redistributed after being returned by Wisconsin and Ohio. These additional funds bring the total available for construction of the first segment of the California High-Speed rail to $5.5 billion.

The initial segment will begin in the Central Valley and incorporate as many as 120 miles depending on which of the alternative alignments are selected.

• Through Corcoran OR Corcoran Bypass
• West of Allensworth Park OR along BNSF east of Allensworth Park
• Through Wasco & Shafter OR Wasco & Shafter Bypass

The alignment adjacent to the BNSF will impact Allensworth State Historic Park , the alternative west of the BNSF will avoid Allensworth State Historic Park.

The first segment will begin near Madera, north of Fresno, and end in Shafter, about 10 miles north of Bakersfield. If the more expensive alignments are selected the track will only be about 90 miles and stop at Allensworth. Alignment selection will be made after all environmental studies have been completed.

 
Stephen Hill, Sr.