Politics & Government

Poll: Do You Agree With High-Speed Rail Vote?

Some Belmont leaders and residents are speaking out on the state Legislature's approval of $8 billion in high-speed rail funding. Tell us what you think.

 

As reported by , the California State Assembly and State Senate an initial $8 billion of spending last week for the purposes of constructing the initial leg of the high-speed rail (HSR) network in the Central Valley.

Local assemblymembers in favor of the funding, with Gordon referring to the bill as an early investment in California’s rail system that will benefit California’s infrastructure.

Find out what's happening in Belmontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Other proponents say HSR will help vitalize the state's economy and provide a cleaner, more efficient mode of transportation along the Bay Area to Los Angeles corridor.

But , such as Belmont mayor say HRS is a bad idea.

Find out what's happening in Belmontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Building tracks in the Central Valley with low ridership, which won't even be high-speed rail, is a bad plan," said Warden. He added that although the initial funding has been approved, no funding source has been identified for the remaining 80-90 percent of the project.

Warden said he agrees with Sen. Joe Simitian who voted against the project.

claim high-speed rail is a waste of money and a construction nightmare that will decrease land-values and harm nearby businesses, particularly in commercially land-strapped Belmont.

Feierbach said, "I didn't vote for the high-speed rail bond when it came to the voters and I think there must have been a lot of pressure from the various groups for the Democrats to have voted for it," Feierbach said.

Belmont resident expressed his opposition of the project comment section of yesterday's article, "Shame shame on Jerry Hill and Rich Gordon for caving in to special interest and voting for the HSR, even when 60 percent of current voters did not support the project. They just committed the taxpayers of California to spend billions of dollars over the next 50 years on a corrupt project to nowhere."

Lawhern calls out assemblymembers Jerry Hill and Rich Gordon for making Belmont the "sacrificial lamb," since the proposal calls for nine miles of passing tracks to be constructed in Belmont, "...causing a big loss of sales and property taxes and other income for the City."

Tell us in today's poll and in the comment section below how you feel about the Legislature's approval of $8 billion in high-speed rail funding.

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