HANFORD — "They're trying to take our freedom away!" That's what one citizen, Mike Wheatherly, said about the state's proposed Fresno-Bakersfield routes for the high-speed rail project during a free workshop at the First Baptist Church on Saturday.
The workshop, held by Citizens for California High Speed Rail Accountability (CCHSRA, focused on how the environmental impact report/environmental impact statement process works as well as how concerned citizens can make appropriate comments to the California High-Speed Rail Authority, which is in charge of the project, about the potential impacts of the project.
"We can't afford it," Wheatherly said. "It will end up destroying the Central Valley."
CCHSRA Co-Chairman Aaron Fukuda, who led the workshop, agrees. He said landowners remain uninformed about the details of the project and need to be more aware of how it is infringing on their rights.
"The Authority is trying to diminish our American rights by plowing through the process rather than doing the right thing," Fukuda said.
While part of the workshop's purpose is to discuss with landowners how to make effective comments to the Authority about their concerns, Fukuda said the Authority is not making enough of an effort at addressing the concerns or informing landowners about the project.
"They are doing the bare minimum," he said. "We want to take the evaluation process a step further."
Fukuda said that, despite his belief that landowners need to fight the proposal, he is unsure how large an effect their comments will have on the project.
"They're just going to process them and move on," Fukuda told the audience. "However, I have a choice; I can let them do what they want to do or I can participate and try to fix the problem. You've worked too hard for your property to just give up and not try."
Some of the workshop attendees have ideas on what the Authority needs to do to make the project work.
"I'm totally against it," said Don Coffman, whose farmland could be affected by the project. "It doesn't impress me how the state is going about this."
Coffman believes the high-speed rail project needs to go near Interstate 5, with shuttles to and from the station.
Alisa Gomez, who owns land with her husband in Corcoran, also said she would like to see the route go along the interstate highway.
"I think it would do the least amount of damage to people's property," Gomez said.
The Authority and the Federal Railroad Administration will be holding public hearings today in Bakersfield, Tuesday in Hanford and Wednesday in Fresno to take comments on the revised draft EIR/EIS. The Hanford hearing will be held at the Hanford Fraternal Hall at 1015 N. 10th Ave. All three hearings will be held from 3 to 8 p.m.
The revised draft EIR/EIS contains analysis of new alignment alternatives west of Hanford and through Bakersfield. The west Hanford alignment was added after a similar review last year included only a route option to the east of the city.
Written comments to the Authority will accepted until Oct. 19 after the initial 60-day comment period was extended to 90 days last week.
The reporter can be reached at 583-2429 or jluiz@HanfordSentinel.com.
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