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Committee backs bill to incentivize housing around planned high‑speed rail stations
Summary
AB 314 would allow localities to count fully funded, under-construction high-speed rail stations toward greenhouse-gas reduction projects that unlock housing and transit‑oriented development credits; the committee passed the bill as amended to Appropriations.
Assemblymember Arambula told the committee AB 314 aims to encourage transit-oriented development (TOD) around planned and existing high-speed rail stations by allowing certain station milestones to trigger eligibility for housing and emissions‑reduction funding programs. He said TOD prioritizes pedestrian access and can catalyze housing and local economic growth.
Members questioned whether funding would be contingent on completion of the high-speed rail project; Arambula and staff clarified the amendments require a station to be fully funded and to have initiated construction with at least 10% spent before a jurisdiction could count that station toward the affordable-housing and sustainable-communities program criteria. Committee staff also explained that cap-and-trade funds targeted for affordable housing and sustainable communities are separate from funds appropriated for high-speed rail construction.
Supporters including the City of Merced testified in favor. Several members expressed reservations about the overall high-speed rail project, but the committee adopted the bill as amended and sent it to Appropriations.
