California’s High Speed Rail Authority wants your feedback on Bakersfield’s stop
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The High Speed Rail Authority wants your two cents on the highly anticipated, highly expensive, highly contentious high speed rail touted to haul up to 6.6 million passengers a year.
“But, that’s just the starting point. That’s just the first operating segment of the full phase 1 system,” Margaret Cederoth with the High Speed Rail Authority, said.
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The free open house was Monday 5 to 7 p.m. at Westchester Hall where the Bakersfield Station is planned near Golden State Avenue and F Street.
Cederoth is the planning director for High Speed Rail. She said 119 miles of track is already in construction with 22 miles completed.
“Our current schedule is to focus our current operating segment to be ready between 2030 and 2033,” Cederoth said.
The High Speed Rail Authority is looking for feedback from the Downtown Business Association, local law enforcement, and people with disabilities.
Norma Jackson came to the meeting to find out how much a ticket would cost, and how much it’ll cost taxpayers.
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“That’s what it comes down to. It’ll be nice to have it flying by, but if you can’t afford to ride it what good is it to you?,” Jackson said.
It’ll be the first piece of high-speed track operating between Merced and Bakersfield ending at the Highway 204 and F Street Intersection.
Carlos Pavia and his mother Karen want to see accessibility to get to the megacities that are part of his dream destinations. He has muscular dystrophy and had a bad experience on a plane.
“San Francisco and L.A.,” Pavia said.
The high speed rail trip is projected to take 2 hours and 40 minutes from San Fran to L.A. traveling 220 miles an hour. Pavia is on his last semester at BC majoring in Drone Photography. He took these photos of the high speed rail progress. He said he can’t wait to beat the traffic.
“Faster,” Pavia said.
The next High Speed Rail Authority open house is Tuesday in Hanford from 5 to 7 p.m.
To give your 2 cents click here.
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