California High-Speed Rail Authority, Kings County settle disputes

The California High-Speed Rail Authority and Kings County Board announced yesterday they've reached three major agreements that will clear the way for progress on the state's high-speed rail program in the county and California's Central Valley.

Kings County has agreed to drop a lawsuit filed in 2014 against the authority over its  certification of an environmental impact report for its Fresno-Bakersfield rail line segment and the approval of a route alignment through southern Fresno County, Kings and Tulare counties and into Kern County.

The authority and Kings County Board also signed cooperative agreements related to coordinating ongoing construction efforts in Kings County and the maintenance of several grade separation projects crossing roads in the county, authority officials said in a press release.

High-speed rail work now underway in Kings County is located in a 65-mile construction area that stretches from East American Avenue in Fresno County to 1 mile north of the Tulare/Kern County line. High-speed rail construction is occurring on more than 119 miles in the Central Valley.

“Now is the time for Kings County to come together with the Authority to settle disputes and to signal a new phase of cooperation,” said Kings County Supervisor Doug Verboon. “With our agreements in place, the high-speed rail project can move forward, and we can continue to protect the interests of the people of Kings County.”

As part of the settlement approved by the Kings county Board yesterday, the rail authority will pay the county $10 million "for reimbursement of staff time, the relocation of Fire Station No. 4 and for general plan updates," The Fresno Bee reported.

In addition, the city of Corcoran will receive $1 million for the authority to make up for aesthetic effects resulting from the rail line, the newspaper reported.

“Today’s agreements represent a new day for the high-speed rail project and demonstrate the willingness of both sides to put past issues aside and work together towards constructive solutions to move the high-speed rail project forward,” said the authority's Chief Executive Officer Brian Kelly. “We will continue to work closely with Kings County now and into the future to bring clean, electrified high-speed rail to the valley and the state.”