Tulare Times

Assemblywoman Alexandra M. Macedo has introduced new legislation aimed at redirecting funds from the California High-Speed Rail Authority to wildfire prevention and water infrastructure projects. This proposal seeks to allocate $1 billion annually, currently designated for high-speed rail, towards more immediate needs.

“Families are devastated beyond words, and entire communities have been wiped out by the raging wildfires in Southern California,” Assemblywoman Macedo stated. She emphasized the urgency of taking action to prevent such disasters in the future.

Congressman Vince Fong echoed these sentiments, highlighting the need for a change in strategy. “The state needs to do something differently," he said. "It is crucial that the state act with a sense of urgency and dedicate more resources to remove vegetation and properly manage forests."

Assembly Bill 267 aims to reallocate continuous funding from high-speed rail development to initiatives focused on preventing wildfires and improving water infrastructure. To date, significant spending on high-speed rail has not resulted in substantial progress; only one segment between Kern-Tulare line and Shafter has been completed at a cost of $1.4 billion.

Originally estimated at $34 billion, the project's budget has expanded dramatically to $128 billion. Concerns have been raised regarding its feasibility with current financial resources available.

Macedo criticized the ongoing investment in high-speed rail as ineffective compared to addressing pressing issues like wildfire risk and water security: “By all metrics, the High Speed Rail is a colossal failure," she remarked.