Merced Sun-Star- Get Behind High-Speed Rail

Op-Ed

Both locally and statewide, we are lagging behind as the rest of the nation marches forward toward economic recovery.
Our state and region can continue to fall behind, or we can do what we have always done: Step forward, embrace the challenge and turn it into a victory.

California's high-speed rail offers such an opportunity. In addition to providing badly needed jobs, building a high-speed train system in California will reduce traffic congestion and air emissions and will also connect the Valley to the other major urban centers of the state.

Making the high-speed train a reality will require our region to come together in support of a common goal.

Specifically, the northern San Joaquin Valley must unite in support of the high-speed rail route that makes the most sense for our region.

We must also mutually support Merced's application for the High-Speed Rail's Heavy Maintenance Facility at Castle Commerce Center (the former Castle Air Force Base). If selected, it could bring up to 1,500 jobs to the region.

Last year, the state was awarded $2.34 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the rail system's development and construction. These funds will be used in conjunction with the $9 billion in state bonds that the voters approved in 2008.

To access these funds and the jobs that come with building high-speed rail will take a joint effort.

Currently, the California High Speed Rail Authority is analyzing two routes for the Merced-to-Fresno portion of the system: the A-1 alignment, which runs along the BNSF railroad corridor, and the A-2 alignment, which runs along the Highway 99/Union Pacific transportation corridor.

It is imperative that our region support the A-2 route. This will have the least impact on residential and agricultural land uses, as well as providing the fastest travel time between Merced and Fresno.

By contrast, A-1 would cause substantial impacts to Merced County's agricultural resources, running through the unincorporated communities of Planada and Le Grand. The proposed route would cut up farms, residences and businesses, including agricultural processing and packaging facilities.

A-1 also poses impacts to vernal pools and endangered species, and will result in a protracted and contentious environmental permit process. This in turn risks the loss of federal funding. Wasting taxpayer funds on such a fruitless endeavor just doesn't make sense.

Supporting the A-2 route ensures the least amount of agricultural and environmental disruption.

It also offers the best opportunities for breathing new life into our downtown communities, with possibilities of redevelopment into commercial, business and living centers. It also will give us the best promise of being "shovel-ready" and able to receive federal funds.
In addition to supporting the A-2 route, the Northern San Joaquin Valley must come together in support of the former Castle Air Force Base as the site of the High Speed Rail's Heavy Maintenance Facility. The site is one of a handful of possible locations being considered for the assembly and maintenance of the trains.

The Castle Commerce Center already has most of the needed infrastructure and environmental clearances.

With immediate access to road, rail and air transport, Castle is conveniently positioned to serve as a multi-modal transportation hub. This infrastructure will allow cargo and goods to be moved with ease, saving both time and money.

Castle is a "win-win," saving money for the state and bringing a projected 1,500 permanent, full-time positions to the region.

If we are to see these benefits become a reality, it is crucial that our region come together and develop a common plan. It is imperative that the counties of San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced be relentless with their support of the Castle site and of route A-2 as the alignment.

This best serves all of our communities, and best defines future growth and redevelopment opportunities for the Northern Valley.

Failure to do so will only ensure that the most significant benefits of high-speed rail move somewhere farther down the line.

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