Passenger Trains > Settlement Reached to Drop Bakersfield HSR Lawsuit

In the agreement, the rail agency “acknowledges that the city is concerned that the Bakersfield Hybrid Alignment analyzed in the May 2014 (environmental report) is unacceptable to the city.” The settlement requires the rail authority to consider a new alternative route south of Seventh Standard Road, at the northwestern fringe of Bakersfield, as well as a new station location in the city.The rail agency originally contemplated putting its station in downtown Bakersfield, near the existing Amtrak station near Truxton and Union avenues. The settlement identifies a new station site “in the general area of F Street and Golden State Avenue,” about a mile and a half from the Amtrak station.The state agency pledges that it will conduct a workshop in Bakersfield on the new route option and station site. Once a new environmental assessment is prepared, the agency will hold its board meeting in Bakersfield to certify the environmental analysis and finalize the route. Yet to be determined is whether the evaluation will be part of a revision to the already-approved Fresno-Bakersfield environmental impact report, or included in the environmental work for the next segment connecting Bakersfield to Palmdale.

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/12/19/4294288_hsr-agency-announces-settlement.html?sp=/99/406/263/1256/&rh=1#storylink=cpy

Golden State and F St. ain't a mile and a half from the Amtrak station. Not a terrible location though.

So much for any thought that local trains in the valley will collect passengers and deliver them to a high speed rail station. It'a a shame that this important project keeps making bad decisions.

John Wrote:
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> So much for any thought that local trains in the
> valley will collect passengers and deliver them to
> a high speed rail station. It'a a shame that
> this important project keeps making bad decisions.

Hey, if it weren't for bad decisions, there wouldn't be any decisions at all.

Does this mean WeedPatch still has a chance?

Steve Donaldson
Pacific Grove, CA

John Wrote:
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> So much for any thought that local trains in the
> valley will collect passengers and deliver them to
> a high speed rail station. It'a a shame that
> this important project keeps making bad decisions.


Um, the grade separated HSR corridor would be the most logical place to add local tracks, stations, and service. Get them off freight lines and improve reliability.