California’s high-speed rail begins in Fresno
Written by jrood
The California High-Speed Rail Authority has picked the area where the first segment of California's and the nation's first high-speed rail track will be constructed. The 65-mile portion of track, with a price tag of $4.15 billion, will stretch from just north of Fresno and continue north of Bakersfield, passing straight through Fresno. It is just the start of an 800-mile high-speed rail project that will ultimately connect San Diego to San Francisco with trains running up to 220 miles per hour. Two new stations will be constructed along the track, one in downtown Fresno and the other near Hanford. The new track will be aligned with existing tracks. The entire Central Valley portion of the high-speed rail project, from Merced to Bakersfield, will generate 135,000 much-needed full-time construction jobs. Yet to be chosen is the site for the 800-mile system's heavy maintenance facility, which could be located in Fresno County and would bring an additional 1,500 jobs. "The Authority Board's courageous decision today will create major economic stimulus for Fresno County," Fresno County Supervisor Henry Perea said. "Not only will we will see thousands of jobs for Fresno County residents, but we'll also see Fresno County position itself as the nation's high-speed rail development center."
