The High Speed Rail was approved. The original plan was that the HSR would follow preapproved transit routes (Hwy 5 and 14) to minimize taxpayer dollars spent and destruction to the natural environment. Since project approval, the plans have been altered, dramatically increasing project costs and directly destroying a strained environment. Now the train routes will cost billions extra to go through the Angeles National Forest disrupting an already stressed ecosystem and strain a water supply that is severely threatened.
Why is this not good? :
- This will require additional billions of taxpayer dollars to deviate from the original proposed route.
- This will further stress an already strained ecosystem, particularly the water basin. The Angeles National Forest helps supply water which would be directly impacted by the destruction and invasion done to these mountains.
- Existing transit routes (which were the original plan) act as a foundation to the HSR infrastructure which keeps funding centralized and streamlines maintenance and upkeep for our children's future.
We hereby propose full rejection of the High Speed Rail Authority drilling through or under the Angeles National Forest. We petition to those lucky enough to represent California as a politician, for their support at the next succeeding general election, or at any special statewide election held prior to that general election or otherwise provided by law.
We the undersigned, support the original route proposed in 2007 following the (5) and (14) freeways. We the undersigned, are against the alternate High Speed Rail route through the San Gabriel Mountains.
