California’s High-Speed Rail Project Faces Increased Criticism
California’s struggling high-speed rail initiative is under fire as costs continue to rise, with officials now suggesting a plan for a bullet train that would transport passengers to Yosemite National Park.
The project, plagued by escalating expenses and missed timelines, is projected to exceed $100 billion upon completion. In light of this, officials from the National Railroad and Central Valley are proposing shifting the location of the future Merced station out of downtown. The rebranded station would be known as the Yosemite Access Point.
However, the new proposed site, located about four miles southeast of the initial downtown location, would still necessitate a bus shuttle for tourists to the park, which is 110 miles away.
“This feels like gaslighting,” remarked Rep. David Tangipa (R-Fresno). “Their strategy seems to be changing the name to make everyone feel better.”
The Yosemite rebranding comes after Governor Gavin Newsom and state Democrats introduced a bill aimed at erasing records related to high-speed rail expenditures, which are currently at a staggering $215 million per mile.
“Rather than being transparent, they’re looking to relocate trains to a site four miles outside Merced and brand it as the ‘Gateway to Yosemite,’” Rep. Alexandra Macedo (R-Tulare) commented. “This is an affront to taxpayers. No matter how they package it, high-speed rail is a substantial failure.”
Last year, the California High-Speed Rail Authority quietly revealed plans to entirely bypass Merced, redirecting the tracks towards the Bay Area, a decision that has drawn ire from local officials who claim the state has broken its commitments again.
Requests for a comment from the governor’s office and high-speed rail officials went unanswered.
Merced Mayor Matthew Serratto encouraged state leaders to officially name it the Merced-Yosemite Station, emphasizing the importance of a strong promotional strategy.
Yet, not everyone in Merced supports this direction. City Councilman Darin DuPont criticized the proposed changes, labeling them as “yet another sleight of hand by the High-Speed Rail Authority.”
At a press conference last week, Newsom presented high-speed rail as a success rather than a failure, despite its initial estimate being set at $33 billion.
Currently, about $15 billion has been spent on the project. What remains appears mostly as a series of viaducts and overpasses scattered across the Central Valley, as shown in photos retrieved by the Post.
“We’re finally getting back on track,” Newsom claimed during a social media announcement as he gestured towards Wasco’s freight train.
The proposed Merced station site would be located on unincorporated farmland filled with pistachio orchards and abandoned warehouses, painting a stark picture of the project’s actual potential.
Peter Whippy, the rail authority’s director of external affairs, presented the proposal for the Southeast Station to the Merced City Council, referring to the change as “value engineering” that could save up to $1 billion.
However, land-use experts caution that this pivot undermines the very advantages high-speed rail aimed to offer. John Radulovich, a former Bay Area Rapid Transit Director, expressed concerns, stating: “From a land use and planning perspective, building a station in a remote area typically yields the poorest outcomes.”
