Central Valley Congressman Questions High-Speed Rail's Feasibility
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – A California congressman is calling for an investigation into the Central Valley section of the proposed high-speed rail project through California, which he calls a "train to nowhere."
Congressman Dennis Cardoza from Merced says it doesn't make sense to lay the first track of the high speed rail project between Corcoran and Borden, an unincorporated town so small the U.S. Census Bureau doesn't even keep official population counts. He's asking federal officials to intervene.
KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports:
"I'm just highly disappointed in the authority and the leadership and the management of that agency, and I think we need to take a hard look at this project from here on out," said Cardoza.
Rail authority board member Rod Diridon said they understand Cardoza's concerns.
"We're trying to figure out how we can address the issues that the Congressman has identified, while also conforming to the Federal Railroad Administration's requirements that the starting element be in the Central Valley," said Diridon.
Diridon says the Feds have threatened to withhold billions in funding if a start point isn't chosen by the end of the month.
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