The California High-Speed Rail Authority is wisely seeking $4.6 billion in federal stimulus funding to begin work on the system that one day will connect California through the San Joaquin Valley.
Under the plan, trains will zip through California's heartland at 220 mph on some segments. Part of the High Speed Rail Authority's request Wednesday is $1.3 billion for the Valley portion of the project.
For the Fresno to Merced segment, $466 million would be spent on right-of-way acquisition, grade separations, utility relocation, environmental mitigation, earthwork, guideway structures and track. The cost of that same infrastructure on the Fresno/Bakersfield segment would be $819.5 million.
We have long been enthusiastic supporters of high-speed rail and believe that it holds many benefits for Valley residents. It would offer quick and efficient transportation to the Bay Area and Southern California, help improve the region's terrible air quality, and take traffic off our already congested freeways.
It also would create high-paying construction jobs as the system is being built and long-term jobs to operate and maintain the rail segments through the Valley.
Rail authority officials say the Valley portion of the route is a priority because the many rural stretches can be used to test trains at their top speeds.
A high-speed rail system has been planned for the Golden State for many years, but it could never get the infusion of cash needed to get it started.
But California voters in 2008 approved a bond that includes $9 billion to jump-start construction. The entire system is estimated to cost $40 billion. The funding will come from state, federal and local sources and private donations.
A high-speed rail system is an investment in California's future. It will only get more expensive if we delay construction.
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