High-Speed Rail Groundbreaking Met With Optimism, Stalled Schedule
FRESNO (CBS13) — State leaders broke ground in Fresno on Tuesday on the first phase of California's high-speed rail project.
The first stretch of rail will run 29 miles from Madera to Fresno and will take several years to finish. The laying of tracks won't happen for another four years.
The bullet train will run at 200 mph, but its construction is now two years behind schedule.
California will be the first in the country with high-speed rail, but far from the first in the world.
"High speed rail has been proven to be critical component to transportation in Europe and in Asia," said Joseph Szabo with the California High-Speed Rail Authority.
But state and Congressional republicans say it's not likely to ever run. The project doesn't even have half of the land needed for the first 29 miles. Supporters, though, are optimistic the rail doesn't need to wait for the land.
"If we used that same standard to improve highway 99, we'd never build anything," said Rep. Jim Costa, (D-Fresno).
The rail will also need private funds and the state's promise of money from the cap-and-trade fees to help complete the $68 billion construction.
A representative said the project doesn't need additional money from Congress, which could have been a hurdle after Republicans claimed the Senate and retained the House in November.
Not all of the private investors have been identified.
Gov. Jerry Brown says California generates enough revenue to pull off the project. He and supporters compared it to other successful projects that faced criticism, like the water bond, BART and the Golden Gate Bridge.
The rail project demolished the old Del Monte plant to make way for the new Fresno station. Project leaders say they will begin relocating utilities and underpasses will be built in Phase 1.