City, High Speed Rail Authority reach settlement agreement

BAKERSFIELD, CA - The city announced Friday the dismissal of its California Environmental Quality Act lawsuit, in exchange for a new proposed route through Bakersfield.

City officials say the proposed alignment is shorter and the environmental impact is much smaller. Officials say the current route, from Fresno to Bakersfield, triggered six lawsuits from plaintiffs here in Kern County, including the city of Shafter and Bakersfield.

Last week, the U.S. Surface Transportation Boa