The reopening of California gets met with guarded optimism, a popular trail reopens after more than a decade, and the bullet train project gets federal funding restored.
1. Bay Area residents prepare for California’s reopening
As of June 15, 2021, California has officially reopened after a year of lockdowns brought on by the coronavirus.
The San Jose Spotlight reported that Governor Gavin Newsom’s declaration meant the majority of businesses have permission to operate at full capacity, and vaccinated people can mostly remove their masks while grocery shopping, eating at restaurants, or working out at the gym.
The report added the relaxation of state restrictions would also remove the capacity limits and physical distancing requirements that had been in place for more than a year while granting all businesses, churches, and local governments the option to decide for themselves whether to continue the safety precautions. The entities can also require proof of vaccination from anyone using the facilities.
Bay Area residents appear to be greeting the announcement with guarded enthusiasm, with caution and care being the preferred method of moving forward.
2. Popular Big Sur Trail to Reopen After 13-Year Closure
Back in 2008, wildfires forced the closure of Big Sur Trail, a popular hiking destination known for the redwood trees and a path leading down through a gorge to a 60-foot waterfall. Now, 13 years and $2 million later, the trail’s restoration had been completed.
According to a statement from the Save the Redwoods League, the restoration project involved taking down fire-damaged infrastructure and replacing more than 4,150 square feet of asphalt and concrete.
CNN reported reconstruction work on the trail officially began after the fire, but landslides and additional damage caused by subsequent fires delayed the renovation project for years. The reopening date was further pushed back by the Soberanes Fire in July 2016, which caused landslides and closed part of Highway 1 south of the park.
The California Parks website stated seven of the eight trails located in Big Sur have been opened, with Oak Grove Trail the only one closed as of June 16, 2021.
And speaking of restoring things from 2008…
3. U.S. Will Restore Almost $1B for Bullet Train
On June 10, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the federal government has reached an agreement to restore nearly $1 billion in funding for California’s troubled bullet train
ABC News reported the U.S. Department of Transportation finalized settlement negotiations to restore the money for the high-speed rail project that was revoked in 2019, Newsom said Thursday night.
Almost $10 million in bond money specifically for the construction of a high-speed rail line was approved by California voters in 2008. The original plan involved having the rail line, which would connect Los Angeles and San Francisco, operating in 2020. Cost overruns and delays plagued the project, eventually leading to the federal government’s 2019 decision to revoke funding.
A new deadline has been set for 2029, and the governor’s office has created a $4.2 billion budget proposal for the project.