News & Reviews News Wire Digest: News report says official leaves California high speed rail agency after investigation

Digest: News report says official leaves California high speed rail agency after investigation

By David Lassen | May 26, 2021

News Wire Digest for May 26: Planning advances for restoration of Northern Ontario rail service; Georgia to buy massive site for rail-served industrial park

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No. 2 official departs from California high speed agency

California High Speed Rail Authority logoThe No. 2 official at the California High-Speed Rail Authority has left the agency as the result of an investigation, the Los Angeles Times reports. Chief Operating Officer Joe Hedges left the agency as of Tuesday following an investigation that began last year with an anonymous letter claiming Hedges overruled decisions by employees and awarded unmerited payments to contractors. The chairman of the authority’s board said the investigation determined that no fraud had occurred, but that certain processes be changed. An authority spokeswoman confirmed Monday was Hedges’ last day with the agency and that CEO Brian Kelly will address “necessary personnel moves” until Gov. Gavin Newsom can name a replacement.

Effort to restore rail service to Northern Ontario moves forward

The province of Ontario, Ontario Northland, and provincial transit agency Metrolinx are advancing efforts to restore passenger service to Timmins or Cochrane, Ont., which last operated in 2012. The North Bay Nugget reports government officials and Ontario Nortland CEO Corina Moore gathered Tuesday to announce release of the Initial Business Case for the proposed 13-stop passenger service. The next step will be a more detailed business-case study, which will look at details such as station locations, integration with Ontario Northland’s bus service, and such scheduling matters as the number of days service would be offered. This planning is to be completed in 2022; service could begin by mid-decade.

Georgia to buy 2,284-acre site for industrial park 30 miles from port of Savannah

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has authorized purchase of a 2,284-acre industrial park site 30 miles from the port of Savannah, which would provide road and rail access to 250 major metro areas. The Bryan County News reports the Bryan County Mega-Site is adjacent to Interstate 95 and I-16, and will be served by the Georgia Central Railway, which connects to CSX in Savannah and Norfolk Southern near Macon. In a press release, state Department of Economic Development Commission Pat Wilson said, “As we are seeing industries transform and demands shift, having an available location like the Bryan County Mega-Site will allow us to meet the needs of rapidly growing corporations and provides them access to all of the state’s competitive advantages.” The governor’s office said the purchase was the largest in the state’s history.

6 thoughts on “Digest: News report says official leaves California high speed rail agency after investigation

  1. Georgia’s involvement in industrial development is a very interesting step. I’d like to learn more and I hope Trains can focus on the motivations and expected results at some future point.

  2. When will all agencies realize that there needs independent auditors to prevent these types of occurrences ?

    1. Probably when my 6 year old grandson retires from his career whatever that may be. LOL. What a mess out there.

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