California's high-speed rail advocates are lobbying for a sizable chunk of the $8 billion in federal high-speed rail funding that's available. California's application includes about $1.3 billion for San Joaquin Valley routes that would run from Merced to Bakersfield. The remainder of the application, about $3.4 billion, would include segments for San Francisco to San Jose and Los Angeles to Anaheim.
With 23 states going after the federal funding, California will have to prove its application is worthy, especially considering that the Golden State wants more than half of the federal money available.
California High-Speed Rail Authority leaders were on Capitol Hill lobbying for the state's $4.7 billion funding request. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, and Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer have also been pushing California's application with federal officials.
California would be perfect for high-speed rail because of the large distances between major cities and the need to get motorists off the state's crowded freeways.
For San Joaquin Valley residents, high-speed rail system would offer quick and efficient transportation to the Bay Area and Southern California. It would help improve the Valley's air quality, and give residents other transportation options.
In addition, this massive public works project would create high-paying jobs in construction and related industries. The Valley could use those jobs right now.
California voters helped the state's quest for a high-speed rail system in 2008 when they approved a bond that includes $9 billion to jump-start construction. The entire system in California could cost $40 billion, and the rest of the funding must come from other sources, including state and federal funds and private donations.
We believe high-speed rail is part of our nation's future. It will reduce dependence on foreign oil, lower greenhouse gas emissions and provide a cheaper alternative to costly air travel.
There's no better place to start with high-speed rail than California.
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