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Merced officials press to stay in Phase 1; Vernon officials urge removal of Malabar Yard mitigation and signal legal challenge
Summary
Merced County and city leaders urged the Authority to keep Merced in the first operating segment and improve direct communication; City of Vernon officials and businesses strongly opposed Malabar Yard mitigation, saying closing 49th Street and adding a connector would harm emergency response, air quality and local businesses and that Vernon will consider CEQA litigation if mitigation is not removed or reworked.
Merced County and city officials told the California High-Speed Rail Authority on Nov. 20 that they remain committed to the project but want clearer, direct communications and formal assurance that Merced will remain in the first operating segment.
"Merced County is deeply invested in this project and needs accurate information to plan response responsibly for our residents," said Josh Pedrozo, chair of the Merced County Board of Supervisors. He said county leaders learned about possible resequencing and privatization through media reports rather than from the Authority and asked for a "real commitment to timely, direct, and transparent communication going forward."
Merced speakers including Council member Shane Smith and Frank Quintero, deputy city manager, thanked staff for recent meetings but reiterated that any changes to sequencing language or SB 198 should include station communities and local representatives.
At the same time, a large contingent from the City of Vernon urged the board to omit the city's Malabar Yard mitigation from the Link US environmental study, saying the mitigation would divide the city and worsen public‑safety, traffic and air‑quality outcomes.
"Remove the Malabar Mitigation from the project scope," Brian Psyche, Vernon city administrator, told the board, saying the expansion would increase congestion, slow emergency response and "diminish the quality of life for residents, workers, and businesses." Dana Musa Milward, Vernon city attorney, added that the loss of private rail storage is not an adverse environmental effect that requires mitigation under NEPA or CEQA and said Vernon is prepared to file CEQA litigation if the mitigation measure remains.
LA Metro and Authority staff acknowledged Vernon concerns and described outreach and technical meetings. Scott McConnell, LA Metro project executive, said engineers examined six alternative mitigation sites before identifying Malabar as the preferred option, but he also described a suite of over 100 community improvements totaling more than $24 million that Metro says would offset adverse effects.
Why it matters: The Link US project redesigns Union Station’s operations and affects freight storage on the West Bank. Vernon officials say the proposed mitigation effectively converts a private operational change into land‑use impacts on their city; Merced officials say sequencing and communication affect planning for jobs and local investments.
What happens next: Authority staff said it will continue to work with Metro and Vernon to evaluate comments, enter submitted letters into the administrative record and consider changes before staff asks the CEO to sign a combined final EIS/ROD. Vernon representatives said they will pursue legal options if mitigation is not removed or substantially revised.
