Merced Mayor Matthew Serratto wrote the following letter and submitted it to The Merced FOCUS for publication.
Merced has supported California’s High Speed Rail project for more than a decade. Our city has invested time, planning, and resources to prepare for a downtown station. Families, businesses, UC Merced, and Merced College have shaped their futures around the promise of this project. That is why the recent report that suggested removing Merced from the first operating segment was so concerning.
The city of Merced, Merced County, and our local partners were not consulted before the report was released. We learned of it through the media, the same as the public. This is not how partners should be treated. The High-Speed Rail Authority has since admitted this was a mistake, and we welcome their pledge to improve communication. Now we need to see real action to back up those words.
Merced is not just another stop. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in California. We are building connections to Amtrak, to the Altamont Corridor Express, and to our newly-renovated and expanded regional airport. We also serve as a gateway to Yosemite National Park. Our location and growth make us a natural hub for High-Speed Rail. To take Merced out of the plan would ignore all these advantages and would undo years of work by our community and our partners.
We also recognize that the project faces financial challenges. There is still an $8.6 billion funding gap, and $26 billion is needed to finish the line from Merced to Bakersfield.
Our message is clear: Merced has invested in this project, and the state must now invest in Merced. Together, with our local partners, we call on the Legislature and the High-Speed Rail Authority to keep their promises, secure the necessary funding, and move forward with Merced as a full partner. The future of High-Speed Rail and the future of the Central Valley depend on it.
Sincerely,
Matthew Serratto
Mayor
City of Merced