High speed rail groundbreaking set

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The official groundbreaking for the California High Speed Rail project is just one week away. The event in Fresno's historic Chinatown district will mark the symbolic start to the nation's largest construction project. California Governor Jerry Brown and U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx will be among the dignitaries to launch the nearly $70 billion project.

Preparations, including demolition work and land acquisition for the High Speed Rail project have been underway for more than a year. Despite vocal opposition and lawsuits, many of the major legal challenges to the system have been overcome. Diana Gomez is the Central Valley Regional Director for the agency and says the ceremony will be an important step.

"It's another major milestone to show that our project is moving forward and we will be building High Speed Rail in the state of California," said Gomez. "This is a symbolic event for the public."

Fresno County Supervisor Henry Perea sees the event as a key move for the project.

"Big game changer and I think Tuesday is going to be a historic day not just for the state but definitely for Fresno," explained Perea.

Lee Ann Eager is the CEO of the Fresno Economic Development Corporation. She says an official groundbreaking sends a message that the project is real.

"For us this is an exciting event. It's a long time coming," said Eager. "We've been working on this project for 5 and a half years. We knew it was coming we knew it was going to start in Fresno but I think this is finally the culmination of all that work."

Eager notes nearly 50 local companies already have contracts with the rail authority, and hundreds of jobs have already been created. She says thousands more are on the way, meaning billions of dollars for the local economy.

In addition to the initial construction Perea believes Fresno is on track to be selected as the site of the heavy maintenance facility for the project, and potentially the manufacturing center of a nationwide high speed rail system.

"There is no doubt in my mind that it is ours to lose in terms of the maintenance facility," said Perea. "We've done all the right things in the past five years to be awarded that contract. In 2015 we are very, very optimistic the authority will award it to Fresno County. We will transform the economy of this Valley."

Some immediate obstacles remain. Hundreds of building must still be purchased and demolished. The owner of an old furniture warehouse near Kern and G streets is allowing graffiti artists to paint what they like. Fresno Artist Creighton Geigles says his work symbolizes the coming demise of the structure.

Geigles explained, "It's an interpretation of death because this building is dying, It's a disfigured form that's dying with the wall basically."

But the death of the old will make way for a new and some believe brighter future for Fresno.

Eager added, "This is dream come true for a lot of people in Fresno County."