OUR VIEW: Supervisors' HSR vote is premature
The Kern County Board of Supervisors would be premature to hold a vote Tuesday on the California High-Speed Rail project, either in support or opposition.
A postponement of the vote makes the most sense at this juncture. Here's why:
The draft business plan released in November was just that: a draft. The public comment period ended Jan. 17, barely two weeks ago, and a revised and final plan will be coming that takes into account the concerns raised in Kern County and elsewhere. It makes no sense to take a vote on a plan that will likely change in a few weeks when the final draft is released. If the supervisors still have problems with the business plan, that would be the time to say so.
County supervisors also need to work with county staff to straighten out their position on the high-speed rail maintenance facility. The county has submitted three bids to host the facility at locations near Shafter or Wasco. The facility would bring 1,500 jobs to the area and up to $250 million a year in economic benefits. Supporters of the maintenance facility hope the bid won't be hurt if supervisors vote against the high-speed rail project. It's hard to believe it wouldn't be. Political support from county leaders for the project is critical.
Californians are justified in their concerns about high-speed rail. Most notable is the price tag, which has jumped from about $40 billion in 2008, when voters approved the project, to the current $100 billion. There have also been challenges within the underfunded High-Speed Rail Authority. A new chief is about to take over and the office has been blasted for not managing unwieldly contractors, who outnumber staff 25-to-1.
But we also know this: High-speed rail will be beneficial to Kern County in terms of jobs, economic development, connectivity and better air quality. Will those benefits approach the expectations established by the High-Speed Rail Authority? Many Californians have their doubts. But given the potential benefits that could accrue to Kern County, we owe it to ourselves to have the fullest picture possible of the project's pros and cons before drawing our line in the sand. The time for Kern County government to cast any sort of judgment on the project is not upon us yet.
