Plans for the high speed rail took center stage downtown Fresno Wednesday morning. U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood made a stop in the valley. He met with supporters and opponents of the high speed rail.
Secretary LaHood is hopeful. He says the rail project will create thousands of jobs and give the California economy a much needed boost. He says, "This is very similar to building a freight rail system, which America has the best in the world and we have the best interstate in the world. If we take cues from those projects. We'll get this right, and we'll build it in sections."
The first section will connect Fresno to Bakersfield. The ride will take under 40 minutes.
Mayor Ashley Swearengin says, "It's the cheapest way to move people in California, The most environmentally friendly way to move people in California. Yet there are clearly challenges in implementing the project."
The biggest challenge is money. The High Speed Rail Authority says the project will cost $100 billion. There's more than $6 billion available for construction right now. Most of that is from stimulus funds.
Critics argue the money will dry up, and the rail project will crumble.
Secretary LaHood says that's not going to happen. He expects more money will come from the feds, the state, and private investors.
TXT 24
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