California High-Speed Rail Authority extends public review period and sets virtual hearing for Bakersfield to Palmdale section

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the California High-Speed Rail Authority has extended the deadline for public comments for the Bakersfield to Palmdale section of the bullet train project.

Additionally, the previous hearing originally scheduled for April 9 has been re-scheduled as a virtual webcast meeting on April 23, 2020, from 3 - 8 p.m. Comments may be submitted over the internet or by phone.

Photo Credit: CAHSRA

For more information:

Bakersfield to Palmdale Environmental Documents

April 23 Webcast Registration/Info

With much fanfare, CaHSR and Congressman Costa announce a new funding bill that has zero Republican support

On February 21, 2020, the California High Speed Rail Authority (CaHSRA) announced the release of a new federal funding bill sponsored by Congressman Jim Costa that would provide $32 billion dollars to fund projects in federally designated high-speed rail corridors.

CaHSRA proposed Bakersfield Station map

Photo Credit: CaHSRA

The press release trumpeted Costa, Congressman T.J. Cox, and other CaHSRA officials as if the new funding was soon to be on its way to help California's beleaguered bullet train project.

However, not mentioned in the press release is that Costa and his 9 co-sponsors, all Democrats, had merely introduced the bill to the House of Representatives on February 7, 2020. The bill was then referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure where it currently sits. As of this time, no further action has been taken.

To clarify, no new bill has been voted upon or passed by the House, no new bill has been sent to, voted upon, or approved by the Republican controlled U.S. Senate (unlikely at this time), and no new bill has been signed into law by the President (even more unlikely if Trump remains in office).

In short, the fanfare related to the bill appears to be much to do about nothing at this time.