Merced back in initial HSR route

California High-Speed Rail Authority officials on Thursday proposed changes to put Merced back into the initial plans, a decision local officials are calling a “huge win.”

In February, the board announced a revision to its business plan that would bypass Merced in the first part of the rail’s construction, leaving the city without a stop until 2029. But at Thursday’s meeting, the authority recommended a proposal that marked Merced as the starting point of the Central Valley section that would end in Wasco, instead of Shafter, near Bakersfield.

“If in fact this comes to fruition … I think it is a huge success and win for the entire northern San Joaquin Valley,” said Assemblyman Adam Gray, D-Merced.

Part of the compromise to include Merced in the initial section is making the section a single rail instead of a double rail to save money, Gray said.

The plan from February to leave Merced out of the initial stage caused an uproar from local elected officials who say they were promised a stop.

Gray said the authority realized it made a mistake by planning to bypass Merced since officials here always have supported the rail plan.

“They publicly apologized,” Gray said. “(It was) total mismanagement of their process.”

The board still must officially vote on the plan, but Gray said he is confident it will be passed. The Merced high-speed rail station would open in 2025, putting it on the same timeline as the Fresno project.

Bringing the rail through Merced, coupled with the growth of UC Merced, would have major economic development implications, Gray said.

“That is a huge win for Merced,” he said. “That could really make over our entire economic predicament.”

The newly announced changes reintroduces opportunity, be it a distant one, to locate a maintenance depot at Castle Commerce Center, Gray said.

News of the proposed plans were met with a sense of relief in Merced.

City Manager Steve Carrigan noted that the agreement to bring Merced back in still needs approval from the city and county, but it’s expected to get that support.

“This is a historic day for Merced,” he said. “High-speed rail will forever change our city. People will be able to reach San Jose in 42 minutes.”

The train could bring Bay Area workers to eventually live in Merced and spend their disposable-income dollars in the Central Valley, he said.

Merced City Councilman Michael Belluomini said the change of plans is “great news,” noting the city has been supportive of a stop. He said he was also impressed that area leaders were able to make an impact with high-speed rail planners.

“I think sometimes the Central Valley doesn’t swing very much weight in Sacramento and gets overlooked,” he said.

Gray also said having an elaborate transportation system in Northern California, which he hopes includes bringing the Altamont Corridor Express to Modesto, would help Southern California get on board with the high-speed rail.

Backers have said the northern-oriented plan lets the state build an operating portion of the line without relying on additional money that might never come. Supporters hope construction will generate momentum and private investment to pay for the rest of the project south to the Los Angeles area.

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Merced back in initial HSR route."