Statement: BAY AREA COUNCIL APPLAUDS OBAMA ADMINISTRATION FOR REDIRECTING HIGH SPEED RAIL FUNDS TO CALIFORNIA
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The U.S. Department of Transportation today redirected $1.2 billion in high-speed rail funds from Ohio and Wisconsin to 14 other states, including California, which will now receive an additional $624 million for high-speed rail.
In response to this news, Bay Area Council President & CEO Jim Wunderman released the following statement:
“These additional funds will keep California high-speed rail on the fast track. The infusion of new federal money will help to extend the first segment of high-speed rail to another urban center in the Central Valley, quelling concerns that California is building a ‘train to nowhere’. Today’s news also means more jobs for California at a time when we are still facing 12.4% unemployment.
High-speed rail will re-establish California’s leadership across the nation and around the globe, provide an environmentally sound alternative to the country’s busiest air route (SFO to LAX) and take nearly 70 million auto trips off the road every year.
The Bay Area Council applauds the Obama administration and Department of Transportation for supporting high-speed rail in California.”
