The
California High-Speed Rail project is a planned future
high-speed railHigh-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
system in the state of
CaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and headed by the
California High-Speed Rail AuthorityThe California High-Speed Rail Authority is a California state agency established pursuant to the California High-Speed Rail Act to develop and implement high-speed intercity rail service, such as the California High-Speed Rail project.- Members :The authority is composed of nine members...
(CHSRA). Initial funding for the project was approved by California voters on November 4, 2008, with the passage of
Proposition 1AProposition 1A is a law that was approved by California voters in the November, 2008 state elections. It was a ballot proposition and bond measure, that allocated funds for the California High-Speed Rail Authority...
authorizing the issuance of US$9.95 billion in general obligation bonds for the project. The CHSRA is currently tasked with completing final planning, design, and environmental efforts. The planned system would serve major California cities, including San Francisco,
Los AngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
,
SacramentoSacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
,
San JoseSan Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
,
FresnoFresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
,
BakersfieldBakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
,
PalmdalePalmdale is a city located in the center of northern Los Angeles County, California, United States.Palmdale was the first community within the Antelope Valley to incorporate as a city on August 24, 1962; 47 years later, voters approved creating a charter city in November, 2009. Palmdale is...
,
AnaheimAnaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
,
IrvineIrvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
,
RiversideRiverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, and
San DiegoSan Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
The cost of the initial San Francisco-to-Anaheim segment was originally estimated by the CHSRA to be (2009$) or , however a revised business plan released in November 2011 by the CHSRA put the cost at (2010$) or . An implementation plan approved in August 2005 estimates that it would take eight to eleven years to "develop and begin operation of an initial segment of the California high-speed train." It will also share tracks with
CaltrainCaltrain is a California commuter rail line on the San Francisco Peninsula and in the Santa Clara Valley in the United States. The northern terminus of the rail line is in San Francisco, at 4th and King streets; its southern terminus is in Gilroy...
and
MetrolinkMetrolink is a commuter rail system serving Los Angeles and the surrounding area of Southern California; it currently consists of six lines and 55 stations using of track....
using a
quadruple trackQuadruple track railway consists of four parallel tracks. On a quad-track line, two tracks are used in each direction. It is also sometimes called four-track railway....
configuration.
On December 2, 2010, the CHSRA board voted to begin construction on the first 54 mi (86.9 km) of the system 3 mi (4.8 km) south of
MaderaMadera is a city in and the county seat of Madera County, California, United States. It is a principal city of the Madera–Chowchilla Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Madera County, and Metropolitan Fresno. It is located in California's San Joaquin Valley. As of the 2010...
at
BordenBorden is an unincorporated community in Madera County, California. It is located on the Southern Pacific Railroad southeast of Madera, at an elevation of 272 feet ....
, and continue on through downtown Fresno to
CorcoranCorcoran is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Corcoran is located south-southeast of Hanford, at an elevation of 207 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. On December 20, with the additional infusion of in federal funds reallocated from states that canceled their high-speed rail plans, the initial segment of construction was extended to Bakersfield. Another $300 million was reallocated on May 9, 2011, extending the funded portion north to the existing Chowchilla Wye (near the city of
ChowchillaChowchilla is a city in Madera County, California, United States. Chowchilla is located northwest of Madera, at an elevation of 240 feet . It is a principal city of the Madera–Chowchilla Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 18,720 at the 2010 census, up from 11,127 at the 2000...
), so that the train can be turned effectively. Construction is expected to begin in September 2012.
Route
The
California High-Speed Rail project is a planned future
high-speed railHigh-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
system in the state of
CaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and headed by the
California High-Speed Rail AuthorityThe California High-Speed Rail Authority is a California state agency established pursuant to the California High-Speed Rail Act to develop and implement high-speed intercity rail service, such as the California High-Speed Rail project.- Members :The authority is composed of nine members...
(CHSRA). Initial funding for the project was approved by California voters on November 4, 2008, with the passage of
Proposition 1AProposition 1A is a law that was approved by California voters in the November, 2008 state elections. It was a ballot proposition and bond measure, that allocated funds for the California High-Speed Rail Authority...
authorizing the issuance of US$9.95 billion in general obligation bonds for the project. The CHSRA is currently tasked with completing final planning, design, and environmental efforts. The planned system would serve major California cities, including San Francisco,
Los AngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
,
SacramentoSacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
,
San JoseSan Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
,
FresnoFresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
,
BakersfieldBakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
,
PalmdalePalmdale is a city located in the center of northern Los Angeles County, California, United States.Palmdale was the first community within the Antelope Valley to incorporate as a city on August 24, 1962; 47 years later, voters approved creating a charter city in November, 2009. Palmdale is...
,
AnaheimAnaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
,
IrvineIrvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
,
RiversideRiverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, and
San DiegoSan Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
The cost of the initial San Francisco-to-Anaheim segment was originally estimated by the CHSRA to be {{US$|35.7 billion}} (2009$) or {{US$|42.6 billion}}, however a revised business plan released in November 2011 by the CHSRA put the cost at {{US$|65.4 billion}} (2010$) or {{US$|98.5 billion}}. An implementation plan approved in August 2005 estimates that it would take eight to eleven years to "develop and begin operation of an initial segment of the California high-speed train." It will also share tracks with
CaltrainCaltrain is a California commuter rail line on the San Francisco Peninsula and in the Santa Clara Valley in the United States. The northern terminus of the rail line is in San Francisco, at 4th and King streets; its southern terminus is in Gilroy...
and
MetrolinkMetrolink is a commuter rail system serving Los Angeles and the surrounding area of Southern California; it currently consists of six lines and 55 stations using of track....
using a
quadruple trackQuadruple track railway consists of four parallel tracks. On a quad-track line, two tracks are used in each direction. It is also sometimes called four-track railway....
configuration.
On December 2, 2010, the CHSRA board voted to begin construction on the first 54 mi (86.9 km) of the system 3 mi (4.8 km) south of
MaderaMadera is a city in and the county seat of Madera County, California, United States. It is a principal city of the Madera–Chowchilla Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Madera County, and Metropolitan Fresno. It is located in California's San Joaquin Valley. As of the 2010...
at
BordenBorden is an unincorporated community in Madera County, California. It is located on the Southern Pacific Railroad southeast of Madera, at an elevation of 272 feet ....
, and continue on through downtown Fresno to
CorcoranCorcoran is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Corcoran is located south-southeast of Hanford, at an elevation of 207 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. On December 20, with the additional infusion of {{US$|616 million}} in federal funds reallocated from states that canceled their high-speed rail plans, the initial segment of construction was extended to Bakersfield. Another $300 million was reallocated on May 9, 2011, extending the funded portion north to the existing Chowchilla Wye (near the city of
ChowchillaChowchilla is a city in Madera County, California, United States. Chowchilla is located northwest of Madera, at an elevation of 240 feet . It is a principal city of the Madera–Chowchilla Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 18,720 at the 2010 census, up from 11,127 at the 2000...
), so that the train can be turned effectively. Construction is expected to begin in September 2012.
Route
{{BS-header|Proposed route}}
{{BS-table}}
The
California High-Speed Rail project is a planned future
high-speed railHigh-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
system in the state of
CaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and headed by the
California High-Speed Rail AuthorityThe California High-Speed Rail Authority is a California state agency established pursuant to the California High-Speed Rail Act to develop and implement high-speed intercity rail service, such as the California High-Speed Rail project.- Members :The authority is composed of nine members...
(CHSRA). Initial funding for the project was approved by California voters on November 4, 2008, with the passage of
Proposition 1AProposition 1A is a law that was approved by California voters in the November, 2008 state elections. It was a ballot proposition and bond measure, that allocated funds for the California High-Speed Rail Authority...
authorizing the issuance of US$9.95 billion in general obligation bonds for the project. The CHSRA is currently tasked with completing final planning, design, and environmental efforts. The planned system would serve major California cities, including San Francisco,
Los AngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
,
SacramentoSacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
,
San JoseSan Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
,
FresnoFresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
,
BakersfieldBakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
,
PalmdalePalmdale is a city located in the center of northern Los Angeles County, California, United States.Palmdale was the first community within the Antelope Valley to incorporate as a city on August 24, 1962; 47 years later, voters approved creating a charter city in November, 2009. Palmdale is...
,
AnaheimAnaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
,
IrvineIrvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
,
RiversideRiverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, and
San DiegoSan Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
The cost of the initial San Francisco-to-Anaheim segment was originally estimated by the CHSRA to be {{US$|35.7 billion}} (2009$) or {{US$|42.6 billion}}, however a revised business plan released in November 2011 by the CHSRA put the cost at {{US$|65.4 billion}} (2010$) or {{US$|98.5 billion}}. An implementation plan approved in August 2005 estimates that it would take eight to eleven years to "develop and begin operation of an initial segment of the California high-speed train." It will also share tracks with
CaltrainCaltrain is a California commuter rail line on the San Francisco Peninsula and in the Santa Clara Valley in the United States. The northern terminus of the rail line is in San Francisco, at 4th and King streets; its southern terminus is in Gilroy...
and
MetrolinkMetrolink is a commuter rail system serving Los Angeles and the surrounding area of Southern California; it currently consists of six lines and 55 stations using of track....
using a
quadruple trackQuadruple track railway consists of four parallel tracks. On a quad-track line, two tracks are used in each direction. It is also sometimes called four-track railway....
configuration.
On December 2, 2010, the CHSRA board voted to begin construction on the first 54 mi (86.9 km) of the system 3 mi (4.8 km) south of
MaderaMadera is a city in and the county seat of Madera County, California, United States. It is a principal city of the Madera–Chowchilla Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Madera County, and Metropolitan Fresno. It is located in California's San Joaquin Valley. As of the 2010...
at
BordenBorden is an unincorporated community in Madera County, California. It is located on the Southern Pacific Railroad southeast of Madera, at an elevation of 272 feet ....
, and continue on through downtown Fresno to
CorcoranCorcoran is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Corcoran is located south-southeast of Hanford, at an elevation of 207 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. On December 20, with the additional infusion of {{US$|616 million}} in federal funds reallocated from states that canceled their high-speed rail plans, the initial segment of construction was extended to Bakersfield. Another $300 million was reallocated on May 9, 2011, extending the funded portion north to the existing Chowchilla Wye (near the city of
ChowchillaChowchilla is a city in Madera County, California, United States. Chowchilla is located northwest of Madera, at an elevation of 240 feet . It is a principal city of the Madera–Chowchilla Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 18,720 at the 2010 census, up from 11,127 at the 2000...
), so that the train can be turned effectively. Construction is expected to begin in September 2012.
Route
{{BS-header|Proposed route}}
{{BS-table}}
{{BS>
}
{{BS3||exKBHFa|||Sacramento}}
{{BS3||exBHF|||
StocktonStockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
}}
{{BS3||exBHF|||
ModestoModesto is a staffed Amtrak station on the San Joaquin line. It is located on the eastern edge of Modesto, California. The station has one platform which serves a single track; there is also a station house adjacent to the platform...
|}}
{{BS3||exBHF|||
Merced}}
{{BS3|exKBHFa|exSTR|||
San FranciscoSan Francisco Transbay Transit Terminal, or simply Transbay Terminal, was a transportation complex in San Francisco, California, USA, located roughly in the center of the rectangle bounded north–south by Mission Street and Howard Street, and east–west by Beale Street and 2nd Street...
|}}
{{BS3|exBHF|exSTR|||
SFO Airport (via Millbrae)}}
{{BS3|exBHF|exSTR|||
Redwood CityRedwood City is a California charter city located on the San Francisco Peninsula in Northern California, approximately 27 miles south of San Francisco, and 24 miles north of San Jose. Redwood City's history spans from its earliest inhabitation by the Ohlone people, to its tradition as a port for...
/Palo AltoPalo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
/Mountain View-Downtown:Mountain View has a pedestrian-friendly downtown centered on Castro Street. The downtown area consists of the seven blocks of Castro Street from the Downtown Mountain View Station transit center in the north to the intersection with El Camino Real in the south...
}}
{{BS3|exBHF|exSTR|||
San JoseDiridon Station is the central passenger rail depot for San Jose, California. It also serves as a transit hub for Santa Clara County and the Silicon Valley...
}}
{{BS3|exBHF|exSTR|||
GilroyGilroy Station is a Caltrain station located in Gilroy, California. It is the southermost terminus on the Caltrain line, and is only served during commute hours on weekdays...
}}
{{BS3|exABZld|exSTRrf}}
{{BS3|exBHF||||
FresnoFresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
}}
{{BS3|exBHF||||
HanfordHanford is an important commercial and cultural center in the south central San Joaquin Valley and is the county seat of Kings County, California. It is the principal city of the Hanford-Corcoran, California Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Kings County, including the cities...
(proposed)}}
{{BS3|exBHF||||
BakersfieldThe Bakersfield Amtrak Station is a train station in Bakersfield, California. It is the southern terminus of Amtrak's San Joaquin route operated by Amtrak California, with Thruway Motorcoach service continuing to Amtrak stations and bus stops throughout Southern California and Nevada...
}}
{{BS3|exSTR|exSTRrg|exCONTl|||Proposed
Desert XpressDesertXpress is a proposal to build a privately-funded high speed rail passenger train from Victorville, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada.- Overview :...
to Las Vegas}}
{{BS3|exCPICl|exCPICre|||
PalmdaleThe Palmdale Transportation Center is a multi-modal transportation center featuring a Metrolink rail station, a local bus hub, and commuter bus hub, in the city of Palmdale, California...
|}}
{{BS3|exBHF||||
SylmarSylmar/San Fernando is a Metrolink rail station in the city of San Fernando, California. It is served by Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line from Los Angeles Union Station to Lancaster...
}}
{{BS3|exBHF||||
BurbankThe Burbank Metrolink Station, sometimes referred to as the Burbank Transportation Center, is a Metrolink rail station near downtown Burbank, California. It is served by Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line to Lancaster and Ventura County Line to Montalvo, Ventura and both terminating at Los Angeles...
}}
{{BS3|exBHF||||
Los AngelesLos Angeles Union Station is the main railway station in Los Angeles, California. The station has rail services by Amtrak and Amtrak California and Metrolink; light rail/subways are the Metro Rail Red Line, Purple Line, Gold Line. Bus rapid transport runs on the Silver Line...
|}}
{{BS3|exABZlf|exSTRlg|}}
{{BS3|exBHF|exSTR|||
NorwalkNorwalk is a suburban city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 105,549 at the 2010 census, up from 103,298 at the 2000 census, making it the 58th most populous city in California and the 255th nationally....
}}
{{BS3|exBHF|exSTR|||
AnaheimThe Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center is a proposed transportation hub in the city of Anaheim, California. The project would be built on land owned by the City of Anaheim and the Orange County Transportation Authority and would serve to connect Orange County's bus network, the...
}}
{{BS3|exKBHFe|exSTR|||
IrvineIrvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
}}
{{BS|exBHF||
IndustryIndustry is an industrial suburb of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County. Home to over 2,500 businesses and 80,000 jobs, but only 219 residents at the 2010 census - down from 777 residents as of the 2000 United States census - the city is almost entirely industrial...
}}
{{BS|exBHF||Ontario|}}
{{BS|exBHF||
RiversideThe University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of the ten general campuses of the University of California system. UCR is consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United...
}}
{{BS|exBHF||Temecula/Murrieta}}
{{BS|exBHF||
EscondidoEscondido is a city occupying a shallow valley ringed by rocky hills, just north of the city of San Diego, California. Founded in 1888, it is one of the oldest cities in San Diego County. The city had a population of 143,911 at the 2010 census. Its municipal government set itself an operating...
|}}
{{BS|exBHF||
University CityUniversity City is a community in San Diego, California, located in the northwestern portion of the city next to the University of California, San Diego...
}}
{{BS|exKBHFe||
San DiegoUnion Station in San Diego, California, also known as the Santa Fe Depot, is a train station built by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway to replace the small Victorian-style structure erected in 1887 for the California Southern Railroad Company. The Spanish Colonial Revival style station is...
}}
|}
References:
|}
The system will extend from San Francisco and SacramentoSacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, via the Central Valley, to Los AngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and San DiegoSan Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
via the Inland EmpireThe Inland Empire is a region in Southern California. The region sits directly east of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Inland Empire most commonly is used in reference to the U.S. Census Bureau's federally-defined Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area, which covers more than...
. Proposed stations on the route are shown on the right, with stations on the initial San Francisco-Los Angeles-Anaheim route given in bold. San Diego officials have also expressed desire to have the route potentially extend to its South BaySouth Bay is a region in southwestern San Diego County, California consisting of the communities and cities of Bonita, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Lincoln Acres, National City, and South San Diego....
cities and border with TijuanaTijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
to capitalize on the fiscal economic opportunities. On July 2, 2009, U.S. transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced extension of the California high-speed rail Desert XpressDesertXpress is a proposal to build a privately-funded high speed rail passenger train from Victorville, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada.- Overview :...
corridor to Las Vegas, Nevada.
Schedule
The initial segment, between Los Angeles/Anaheim and San Francisco, is due to be operational by 2020. Phase II, which would add extensions to Sacramento and San Diego, is anticipated to be operational by 2030.
Diablo Range crossing track alignment
One issue initially debated was the crossing of the Diablo RangeThe Diablo Range is a mountain range in the California Coast Ranges subdivision of the Pacific Coast Ranges. It is located in the eastern San Francisco Bay area south to the Salinas Valley area of northern California, the United States.-Geography:...
via the Altamont PassAltamont Pass, formerly Livermore Pass, is a mountain pass in the Diablo Range between Livermore in the Livermore Valley and Tracy in the San Joaquin Valley in Northern California...
or the Pacheco PassPacheco Pass, elevation , is a mountain pass located in the Diablo Range in southeastern Santa Clara County, California. It is the main road over the hills separating the Santa Clara Valley and the Central Valley....
to link the Bay AreaThe San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
to the Central Valley. On November 15, 2007, CHSRA staff recommended that the High Speed Rail follow the Pacheco Pass route because it is the more direct route and enables trains to serve both San JoseSan Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
and San FranciscoSan Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
on the same route, while the Altamont route poses several engineering challenges such as crossing the San Francisco Bay. Some cities along the Altamont route, such as PleasantonPleasanton is a city in Alameda County, California, incorporated in 1894. It is a suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area located about east of Oakland, and west of Livermore. The population was 70,285 at the 2010 census. In 2005 and 2007, Pleasanton was ranked the wealthiest middle-sized city in...
and FremontFremont is a city in Alameda County, California. It was incorporated on January 23, 1956, from the merger of five smaller communities: Centerville, Niles, Irvington, Mission San Jose, and Warm Springs...
, also opposed the Altamont route option, citing concerns over possible property taking and increase in traffic congestion. However, environmental groups, including the Sierra ClubThe Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
, have opposed the Pacheco route because the area is less developed and more environmentally sensitive than Altamont.
On December 19, 2007, the CHSRA Board agreed to proceed with the Pacheco Pass option. Pacheco Pass was considered the superior route for long-distance travel between Southern California and the Bay Area, although the Altamont Pass option would serve as a good commuter route. The CHSRA plans conventional rail improvements for the Altamont corridor, to complement the high-speed project.
Benefits
The CHSRA projects that construction of the system will create approximately 150,000 construction jobs and 450,000 permanent jobs by creating new commuters that will use the system.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority projects that the Los Angeles-San Francisco will generate a net operating surplus of {{US$|2.23 billion}} by 2023, consistent with the experience of all other high-speed intercity operations around the world. Even Amtrak's semi-high-speed Acela ExpressThe Acela Express is Amtrak's high-speed rail service along the Northeast Corridor in the Northeast United States between Washington, D.C., and Boston via Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York...
service, generates an operating surplus that is used to cover operating expenses of other lines.
Generally fast trains are more profitable for the operator than slow trains since shorter travel time reduces staff cost and customers' willingness to pay higher ticket prices for the shorter travel times.
Since the trains will be completely grade-separated, there is no threat of interfering with automobile and pedestrian traffic. The project also involves grade-separation for existing rail lines with which it will share rights-of-way along part of its length, further improving safety on these lines and eliminating car traffic delays.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}}
Since high-speed trains (based on fossil fuel electricity generation) use one-third the energy of airplanes (per person) and a fifth of that used by cars (with one person), California High-Speed Rail will also eliminate 12 billion pounds (5.5 million tonnes) of greenhouse gas emissions each year by off-setting passenger car and airplane use. This is the equivalent of removing more than one million vehicles from the state's roads and freeways. It will also lessen California's dependence on foreign oil by up to 12.7 million barrels per year.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}}
The CHSRA projects that the system will "alleviate the need to spend more than $100 billion to build 3000 miles (4,828 km) of new freeway, five airport runways, and 90 departure gates."
Criticisms
In September 2008, Reason FoundationThe Reason Foundation is an American nonprofit think tank founded in 1978 that also publishes Reason magazine. Based in Los Angeles, Reason is self-described as nonpartisan and publishes a statement of values that can best be described as libertarian...
, a libertarian non-profit public policy think tank, and the conservative Howard Jarvis Taxpayers AssociationHoward Jarvis Taxpayers Association is a political organization that helped sponsor Proposition 13 in California in 1978.It was founded by California Republican Howard Jarvis. The organization has outlived its founder, and continues to operate to the present day under the same name, opposing all...
and Citizens Against Government WasteCitizens Against Government Waste is a 501 non-profit organization in the United States. It functions as a think-tank, 'government watchdog', and advocacy group for fiscally conservative causes...
groups published "The California High Speed Rail Proposal: A Due Diligence Report". The report projected that the final cost for the complete high-speed rail system would be $65.2 to $81.4 billion (2008$). This is significantly higher than estimates made for the CHSRA by Parsons Brinckerhoff,{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} a British owned construction firm. It also projected fewer riders by 2030 than officially estimated: 23.4 to 31.1 million intercity riders a year instead of the 65.5 to 96.5 million forecast by the CHSRA and later confirmed by an independent peer review. The report stated that no existing high-speed rail train currently meets the proposed speed and safety goals, although the safety systems have not been fully specified, and that the reduction in CO2 emissions would be inconsequential. The time required to reach the proposed speeds, the distances between stops, and the fact that for part of the route the high speed trains will travel on regular freight train tracks rather than upgraded high speed rail tracks indicates that attaining the proposed speeds would be difficult between the majority of stops.
The Legislative Analyst's OfficeThe Legislative Analyst's Office , located in Sacramento, California, has been providing fiscal and policy advice to the California Legislature for more than 70 years. It is known for its fiscal and programmatic expertise and nonpartisan analysis of the state budget...
published recommendations on May 10, 2011, which they said will help the high–speed rail project be developed successfully. They recommended that the California legislature seek flexibility on use of federal funds and then reconsider where construction of the high–speed rail line should start. They also recommended that the California legislature shift responsibility away from the CHSRA and fund only the administrative tasks of the CHSRA in the 2011-12 budget.
The CHRSA released a revised business plan for the high-speed rail system on November 1, 2011, with a new cost estimate of {{US$|65.4 billion}} (in 2010 dollars), almost double the initial budget of {{US$|33 billion}} (in 2008 dollars) approved by referendum, along with a revised completion date was pushed from 2020 to 2033. The estimated constructions costs for an alternative amount of highway and airport construction was also increased from approximately {{US$|80 billion}} to {{US$|170 billion}}. This latest price estimate by CHSRA of {{US$|98.5 billion}} also says the ultimate price could go as high as {{US$|117.5 billion}}, depending on route and construction features.
Funding
On November 4, 2008, California voters approved Proposition 1AProposition 1A is a law that was approved by California voters in the November, 2008 state elections. It was a ballot proposition and bond measure, that allocated funds for the California High-Speed Rail Authority...
, a measure to construct the initial segment of the planned California High-Speed rail network. The measure provides $9 billion for the construction of the core segment between San FranciscoSan Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
and Los AngelesLos Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
/AnaheimAnaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, and an additional $950 million for improvements on local railroad systems, which will serve as feeder systems to the planned high-speed rail system.
Financing plans to complete the initial segment require as-yet unsecured support from federal and local governments, as well as significant investment from the private sector. In a plan developed by the CHSRA in conjunction with Goldman SachsThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is an American multinational bulge bracket investment banking and securities firm that engages in global investment banking, securities, investment management, and other financial services primarily with institutional clients...
, the federal commitment was expected to be $12 to $16 billion, while private investors would invest up to $7.5 billion, leaving an additional $10 billion to come from local governments. Construction costs are projected to be approximately $42.6 billion (year of expenditure). The CHSRA projects the initial operating segment to produce a budget surplus which will be used to finance extensions to SacramentoSacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
and San DiegoSan Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
On October 2, 2009, then-Governor Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
unveiled California's official application for ARRAThe American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...
high-speed rail stimulus funding. The total amount of the application was $4.7 billion, representing more than half of the $8 billion set aside for high-speed rail. The application included:
- $2 billion for high-speed train facilities at Los Angeles Union Station, Norwalk Station and the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center; right-of-way acquisition, grade separations, utility relocation, environmental mitigation
Environmental mitigation, compensatory mitigation, or mitigation banking, are terms used primarily by the United States government and the related environmental industry to describe projects or programs intended to offset known impacts to an existing historic or natural resource such as a stream,...
, earthwork, tunneling and track work between Los Angeles and Anaheim.
- $1.28 billion for station improvements, grade separations, electrification and other work between San Jose and San Francisco;
- $819.5 million for right-of-way acquisition, grade separations, utility relocation, environmental mitigation, earthwork and track between Bakersfield and Fresno;
- $466 million for similar work between Fresno and Merced
On January 28, 2010, the White HouseThe White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
announced that California would receive $2.35 billion of its request, of which $2.25 billion was allocated specifically for California High Speed Rail, while the rest was designated for conventional rail improvements.
On October 28, 2010, the federal government awarded the CHSRA a further $900 million for passenger rail improvements, including $715 million specifically for the high speed rail project, but with the requirement that it be used specifically for the Central Valley segments from Merced to Fresno, or Fresno-to-Bakersfield. While the CHSRA recognizes the federal government's desire for the initial segment to be built in the Central Valley, the CHSRA states that it will evaluate the starting segment according to its own criteria. This announcement brings the federal government's funding commitment to high-speed rail projects in California to $4.3 billion.
On December 10, 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation reallocated $1.2 billion in federal high speed rail funding from states that had rejected the stimulus funds, including Wisconsin and Ohio. Nearly half of this funding, or $624 million, was redirected to the California High Speed Rail Authority for use on the initial Central Valley leg of the project.
On May 9, 2011, the U.S. Department of Transportation reallocated $2 billion in federal high speed rail funding from Florida, which had rejected the funding. The DOT awarded $300 million to the California High Speed Rail Authority for a 20-mile extension along the Central Valley Corridor. The work funded in this round will extend the track and civil work from Fresno to the ChowchillaChowchilla is a city in Madera County, California, United States. Chowchilla is located northwest of Madera, at an elevation of 240 feet . It is a principal city of the Madera–Chowchilla Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 18,720 at the 2010 census, up from 11,127 at the 2000...
Wye, which will provide a connection to San Jose to the West and Merced to the North. The California High Speed Rail Authority will produce a formal detailed Business Plan on November 1, 2011, for public review and comment. The Business Plan will shape the financial and operational implementation of the HSR project, and must be adopted and submitted to the Legislature by January 1, 2012 and every two years thereafter.
See also
- California-Nevada Interstate Maglev
The California-Nevada Interstate Maglev project is proposing the construction of a Maglev train line from Las Vegas, Nevada to Anaheim, California. One segment would run from Las Vegas to Primm, Nevada, with proposed service to the Las Vegas area's forthcoming Ivanpah Valley Airport. The top speed...
, a proposed maglev from Anaheim, California to Las Vegas.
- Desert Xpress
DesertXpress is a proposal to build a privately-funded high speed rail passenger train from Victorville, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada.- Overview :...
, a planned high-speed rail from VictorvilleVictorville is a city located in the Victor Valley of southwestern San Bernardino County, California. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 census, the city had a population of 115,903, up from 64,030 at the 2000 census.-Geography and climate:...
to Las Vegas.
- Z-Train
The Z-Train is a proposed passenger train service that would operate primarily on Union Pacific Railroad lines between Los Angeles Union Station, Ontario, California, and a new station to be built adjacent to the Las Vegas Strip, with a travel time of five to five-and-a-half hours...
External links
{{High-speed rail in the United States}}
{{High-speed rail}}