Frustrated by a proposed change that would keep high-speed rail running through Shafter at ground-level, the town’s leaders voted to reject the new plan with the mayor saying he’d rather see the train just “go around the city” than rip up local streets to create a series of underpasses and overpasses.
The sentiment was on display at a lengthy Shafter City Council meeting last week, when residents and business owners said they were worried about construction hurting small businesses and disrupting school routes, among other concerns.
“The people have spoken,” Councilmember Gilbert Alvarado said after public comment ended. “I see a lot of devastation.”…