San Jose Loses Solid Advocate For High Speed Rail
SAN JOSE (KCBS) - Silicon Valley has lost a crucial voice in the planning of California's high speed rail project, because one of the region's most experienced transit advocates has not been reappointed to the bullet train board.
Rod Diridon Sr., the executive director of the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State has been on the High Speed Rail board since 2001. But Governor Schwarzenegger did not reappoint Diridon before he left office, opting instead for representatives from the Central Valley and Southern California.
KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports:
"The governor has the right to appoint whomever he'd like to, and I honor that right, and appreciate being appointed by him in the past," said Diridon.
Diridon said to KCBS he may be back on the board soon anyway.
"Well I certainly would like to be considered by Governor Brown, or President pro Tem Steinberg, so we'll see what they do about that," said Diridon.
San Jose Assemblyman Jim Beall told KCBS he is concerned that Silicon Valley will no longer have a strong voice for the multi-billion dollar rail project.
"We're worried that the train will be built in Los Angeles first, and the Bay Area second," said Beall.
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