High-speed rail now coming to Bay Area 1st

SACRAMENTO — In a dramatic shift in California’s plans to build the nation’s first high-speed rail system, state officials announced Thursday that they want the first segment to run between Bakersfield and the Bay Area instead of Bakersfield and Los Angeles County.

By building in the booming Bay Area, the state hopes to attract private investments and support for the project, both of which have been lacking.

Dan Richard, chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, said the change in plans to build to San Jose first needs approval by the authority’s board.

The rail line has been a priority for Gov. Jerry Brown, who joined state political leaders last year to break ground on the initial 29 miles of the line in the Central Valley.

In 2008, California voters approved Proposition 1A, a $9 billion bond to cover the state’s portion of building the rail system.

With Thursday’s announcement, Carl Guardino of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group said potential investors will give the rail project a serious look.

Richard said the change allowed the rail authority to build a segment of the track with funds already being appropriated, such as $500 million in cap-and-trade revenue in the governor’s current budget.

Richard said the authority will continue to move forward with investments and environmental reports in Southern California so that when the money becomes available, it is ready to build.