Wasco council set to vote on whether to oppose rail project
| Monday, Jan 16 2012 04:13 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Jan 18 2012 05:05 PM
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Artist's conception of the bullet train speeding under the Tehachapi Pass. Source: California High Speed Rail Authority.
Wasco's city council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a staff recommendation that it reverse itself and oppose California's high-speed rail project "as currently proposed" -- even though taking that position could hurt the city's chances of landing a lucrative train maintenance facility.
Borrowing arguments being made by critics up and down the state, a staff report on the proposed resolution cites recent information suggesting "major problems" with the project, such as uncertain financing, a questionable draft environmental review and persistent legal challenges.
If approved by a council majority, the resolution would align Wasco with the city of Bakersfield, whose council voted 6-1 last month to oppose the project.
The $98 billion bullet train project is planned to begin construction in the Central Valley late this year and, by 2030, connect Anaheim and San Francisco with trains traveling up to 220 mph.
Wasco is home to one of two proposed sites for the maintenance facility, estimated to create some 1,100 good-paying jobs. The county's other proposed site is in Shafter; several other Central Valley communities are also in the running.
Project officials have emphasized that they want communities with potential maintenance facility sites to support the overall project.
But Wasco's staff report says, "It is unlikely that the Maintenance facility, if built, would be located in Kern County."
City Manager Alan Christensen said that statement was "speculative" and that it was not meant to cover the entire county, only Wasco.
"We have not felt a lot of love from the high-speed rail people about our proposal," he said Monday.
