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Favored Fresno-Merced bullet train route chosen

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Published on 12/01/2011 - 3:00 pm
Written by Business Journal staff
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The California High-Speed Rail Authority has announced its preferred "hybrid" 65-mile route from Merced to Fresno that generally follows Highway 99 north, veers east to miss Madera and connects with a Merced station.

A new staff report also recommends a downtown Fresno station on 18.5 acres near Chuckhansi Park, with the main station facility located at G and Mariposa streets in the Chinatown area.

The route is one of five alternatives for the Fresno-to-Merced section. It's called a hybrid alternative because it parrallels both the BNSF and Union Pacific existing rail alignments, and "provides the least environmental impacts ... is the least costly alternative, and has the fewest constructability issues," according to the report.

The authority board is expected to take action on the recommendation at its Dec. 13 meeting in Merced. The board will host a public comment period at the board meeting.