BAKERSFIELD, CA - The city announced Friday the dismissal of its California Environmental Quality Act lawsuit, in exchange for a new proposed route through Bakersfield.
City officials say the proposed alignment is shorter and the environmental impact is much smaller. Officials say the current route, from Fresno to Bakersfield, triggered six lawsuits from plaintiffs here in Kern County, including the city of Shafter and Bakersfield.
Last week, the U.S. Surface Transportation Board declared that our state's environmental quality act against the high-speed rail, does not apply to the Fresno-Bakersfield route.
City officials say with dismissing the lawsuit, the rail authority agreed to a study on implementing a new proposed route in Bakersfield, beginning from 7th Standard road and ending in downtown Bakersfield with a station located in the area of F Street and Golden State Avenue.
In May, the state's high speed rail authority board approved a route from Fresno to Kern County that will end just north of Seventh Standard Road. That route would impact dozens of landmarks in the downtown area.
City officials say the new proposed route would hopefully change that. Officials say the rail authority plans to work with each resident impacted by the alignment. "They have agreed and committed with working with the property owners to addressing their concerns to responding to those who have hardship or difficulty in a workman like way and they did not do that the previous time, I believe that they intend to do that this time and they're actually obligated themselves to do it this time," said city manager Alan Tandy.
City officials say the new proposed route would impact 100 to 150 structures, compared to the previous route, impacting more than 530 structures.
There is no timeline for the environmental study on the new proposed route. City officials say if the rail authority doesn't approve it, the previous route would be the preferred alignment.
City officials say the proposed alignment is shorter and the environmental impact is much smaller. Officials say the current route, from Fresno to Bakersfield, triggered six lawsuits from plaintiffs here in Kern County, including the city of Shafter and Bakersfield.
Last week, the U.S. Surface Transportation Board declared that our state's environmental quality act against the high-speed rail, does not apply to the Fresno-Bakersfield route.
City officials say with dismissing the lawsuit, the rail authority agreed to a study on implementing a new proposed route in Bakersfield, beginning from 7th Standard road and ending in downtown Bakersfield with a station located in the area of F Street and Golden State Avenue.
In May, the state's high speed rail authority board approved a route from Fresno to Kern County that will end just north of Seventh Standard Road. That route would impact dozens of landmarks in the downtown area.
City officials say the new proposed route would hopefully change that. Officials say the rail authority plans to work with each resident impacted by the alignment. "They have agreed and committed with working with the property owners to addressing their concerns to responding to those who have hardship or difficulty in a workman like way and they did not do that the previous time, I believe that they intend to do that this time and they're actually obligated themselves to do it this time," said city manager Alan Tandy.
City officials say the new proposed route would impact 100 to 150 structures, compared to the previous route, impacting more than 530 structures.
There is no timeline for the environmental study on the new proposed route. City officials say if the rail authority doesn't approve it, the previous route would be the preferred alignment.