Trouble for High Speed Rail project? Planning is underway for the Palmdale-to-Burbank section of the $68-billion bullet train, but  residents of citiesthat the trail will pass aren’t too excited like residents of Palmdale.

“About 150 residents and city officials from communities and cities such as Santa Clarita, San Fernando, Acton and Sylmar spoke for a total of six hours during public comment to tell the eight member board about the potentially devastating impact the project could have on their area,”. “According to the analysis, the track just within that segment could affect 20,000 homes, 47 schools, 48 churches and 25 parks when completed.”

Some issues brought up:

Every area is complaining about something different. San Fernando residents are concerned about sound waves rumbling through the city, and saying, “Hey, why should you make that damn thing go through our city–you wouldn’t even consider putting that thing through old town Pasadena”.  Other cities like Santa Clarita are concerned about home prices, pollution and ground water.

However, one small town that I do feel for is the “rural living” city just 15 minutes south of Palmdale Acton. Now, its obvious that people who live in Acton enjoy a certain lifestyle and the High-Speed Rail will have it’s negative affects in the small town by converting it into a huge construction zone, devastating their unique landscape. One thing for sure is that there is no avoiding the destruction of Acton if the train is connecting from Palmdale to Burbank, unless you want to destroy the Angeles Forest,which  offers natural environments, spectacular scenery, developed campgrounds and picnic areas, swimming, fishing, skiing and the solitude of quiet wilderness areas. You Decide.

While all this is happening Palmdale residents and representatives are excited about the project. Maybe because it will be much easier to commute to work or maybe to just be easier to get in and out of the high-desert.