Bill updates and
strengthens the high-speed rail bond on the November
ballot
Voters deserve the opportunity to
consider up-to-date ballot measures. Today Governor Schwarzenegger recognized
the importance of allowing voters to consider an updated, stronger high-speed
rail bond on the November ballot. With the governor’s signature today on AB
3034, we understand that there is still time for Prop 1A to replace Prop 1 on
the November ballot.
Putting high-speed rail’s best foot
forward on the ballot is especially important because high-speed rail is so
critical for California’s transportation future. With
California’s
population expected to grow to 50 million people by 2030, we have the choice to
either expand highways and airports or build high-speed rail. High-speed rail
will not only be much cleaner and more efficient than car or plane travel, it
will cost less to build than the highway and airport expansions we’ll need
without it.
In addition to the governor, we’d
especially like to thank Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani, author of AB 3034, who
has been a tireless advocate for high-speed rail in the legislature.
AB 3034 updates the high-speed rail
bond measure in the following ways:
AB 3034 provides for the issuance of the same amount of
money in bonds: $9 billion for high-speed rail and $950 million for regional
transit.
The bill prioritizes the San
Francisco to Los Angeles to AnaheimSan Francisco to Los Angeles). However, funds may also be
appropriated by the legislature for the following routes: route (Prop 1 prioritizes funding for
1. Sacramento to Stockton to
Fresno
2. San
Francisco to
San Jose to Fresno
3. Oakland to San
Jose
4. Fresno to Bakersfield to
Palmdale to Los
Angeles
5. Los
Angeles to
Anaheim to Irvine
6. Merced to Stockton to Oakland and San Francisco
via the
Altamont Corridor
The bill places additional stipulations on spending:
1. The bill requires
that no more than 10% of bond proceeds be
used for environmental studies,
planning, and preliminary
engineering activities, the acquisition of property
and
right-of-way and improvement, the mitigation of
environmental impacts, and
relocation assistance.
2. The bill requires
that no more than 2.5% of bond proceeds be
used for administrative expenses.
3. The bill requires
that priority is given to corridors that required
the least amount of bond funds
as a total percentage of
construction.
4. Prior to
appropriation of funds, the authority should have a
very detailed funding plan
for the segments requesting funds.
The bill requires the High-Speed Rail Authority to
complete a revised business plan by October 1,
2008.
The bill creates a new peer review committee to review
planning, engineering, financing, and other elements of the authority’s plans.
The peer review committee would consist of various experts in engineering,
financial services, the construction of high-speed trains, environmental
planning, and local transit, and be required to report back to the legislature
with their findings.
AB 3034 would prohibit any station between Merced and Gilroy, addressing some environmental concerns
in that region.
AB 3034 has widespread support,
including:
California High Speed Rail Authority
American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees
Antelope Valley Board of
Trade
Association for California High Speed
Trains
California State Association of
Counties
California
Partnership for the San
Joaquin Valley
California Transportation Commission
CALPIRG
Capitol Corridor Joint Powers
Authority
Cities of Corcoran, Elk Grove, Hanford, Lemoore,
Palmdale, Sacramento,
and San
Jose
Council of Fresno County
Governments
Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of
California
Counties of Kern, Los
Angeles, Merced, Sacramento, and
Yolo
Greater Merced Chamber of
Commerce
Lemoore Chamber of
Commerce
Los
Angeles Area Chamber of
Commerce
Merced County Association of
Governments
Orange County Transportation
Authority
Rail Passenger Association of California
Sacramento Area Council of
Governments
Sacramento Metro
Chamber
Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management
District
San
Diego Association of
Governments
San
Francisco Chamber of
Commerce
San
Francisco Democratic Party
San Francisco International Airport
San Joaquin Valley Regional Planning Agencies'
Directors' Committee
San Mateo County Economic Development Association
Santa Clara Valley Transportation
Authority
Sierra Club California
Silicon Valley Leadership
Group
Tri-Valley Regional Rail Policy Working
Group
