Central Valley

The authority’s board of directors voted Thursday to approve contracts for the development of Central Valley station designs and to solicit and approve construction bids for the Fresno station.

The review is focusing on a $4-billion promise made under the Biden administration for construction in the Central Valley.

Despite uncertainty over federal funding, Chief Executive Ian Choudri said the immediate goal is to finish construction along a 119-mile stretch between Madera and Shafter in the Central Valley.

The increase in the state’s water allocation followed a similar announcement Monday by the Trump administration, which manages supplies from the federal Central Valley Project.

As a young immigration lawyer in California’s Central Valley, Matthew Barragan cut his teeth defending the rights of indigent workers facing deportation.