“Just as the interstate highway is longer than its first stretch of road, California’s high-speed rail system will be greater than this initial segment.”

WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa released the following statement today after the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s Board of Directors approved the starting point for the state’s high-speed rail project in the Central Valley.

Without funds secured by Costa, new health center would not have been completed 

FRESNO – Today, Congressman Jim Costa joined with local health care providers and patients to open a new dental center in Fresno.  The “Elm Dental Center” was made possible through the over $4 million in Recovery Act funding that Costa secured for Clinica Sierra Vista (CSV) to expand health care services and facilities in the Valley.

Valley will kick off construction of nation’s first high-speed rail system

Fresno, CA – After pressing the White House for funding and advocating on behalf of the Valley, Congressman Jim Costa, joined by Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin, today announced $715 million in federal funds for Valley high-speed rail. The funding, made available through the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program, will go towards beginning construction on the state’s high-speed rail system between Merced and Bakersfield. In what will be a major boost to the Central Valley’s economy, the high-speed rail system is expected to generate more than 135,000 full-time one-year job equivalents over the course of its construction.

USDA & Recovery Act funding invests in Valley’s rural infrastructure

FRESNO – Congressman Jim Costa today delivered $244,000 in federal funding for the City of San Joaquin to invest in local jobs and strengthen the city’s infrastructure. Costa also broke ground on an expansion of the city’s Public Works building which was made possible through today’s announcement. At the event, Costa was joined by City of San Joaquin Mayor Amarpreet Dhaliwal and USDA’s Rural Housing Service Administrator Tammye Trevino who traveled here from Washington D.C.