Californians speak up about high-speed rail http://youtu.be/QlYfjEtuZac

Check out tonight's address by the President to a Joint Session of Congress regarding The American Jobs Act...

President Barack Obama:

"There are private construction companies all across America just waiting to get to work....

"The American Jobs Act will jumpstart thousands of transportation projects all across the country.  And to make sure the money is properly spent, we’re building on reforms we’ve already put in place....

"We’ll set up an independent fund to attract private dollars and issue loans based on two criteria:  how badly a construction project is needed and how much good it will do for the economy...

"Building a world-class transportation system is part of what made us an economic superpower. And now we’re going to sit back and watch China build newer airports and faster railroads? At a time when millions of unemployed construction workers could build them right here in America?"

HIGH-SPEED RAIL INDUSTRY FORUM

The California High-Speed Rail Authority hosted its second Industry Forum today in Fresno - hundreds of business representatives gathered to get the details and link up to bid on next year's 140-mile initial construction segment.

Conservative estimates place the number of jobs created for every $1 billion in infrastructure spending at about 20,000. The Authority already has more than $6 billion lined up to begin construction along the Central Valley “backbone” of the system next year.

The first request for qualifications from prospective bidders for the initial construction segment will be released this month, September 2011. 

“One of the things on California’s docket that stands to have the greatest impact on our economy and our way of life is high-speed rail,” said Roelof van Ark, CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, the state agency charged with overseeing the project. “It competes very favorably with driving and flying over distances of a few hundred miles and – particularly important in California – it creates tens of thousands of jobs in both the short term and the long term.”

The industry forum afforded the private sector several opportunities: to learn more about the project, the bidding process and how they can participate; to interact with and ask questions of California High-Speed Rail Authority officials; and to connect entrepreneurs and small businesses with “prime” contractors to discuss working together. 

“There is going to be work for everybody as an impact of high-speed rail,” Steve Geil, president and CEO of the EDC Serving Fresno County, told the crowd. “This is huge. You’re not competitors competing with each other for work – there’s a place for all of us.” 

Fresno County Supervisor Henry Perea called the project an “economic game changer” for the region. 

“It’s going to change the way we think about travel from a work standpoint,” Perea said. “Imagine the opportunities that arise when we can travel quickly and comfortably around the state. … these companies wouldn’t be here if they didn’t see what this means.” 

Video from the event and the project management team’s in-depth presentation on the initial construction segment and the procurement process is available on the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s website.

Learn more about the types of jobs that will be created by California's high-speed rail project here.

Participants were able to view the board meeting via USTREAM.  A recorded version of today's meeting is also available at http://bit.ly/htDWS4 . 

The CHSRA Board met today in Downtown Los Angeles to hear updates on the three Southern California Sections -- Palmdale to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Anaheim, and Los Angeles to San Diego via the Inland Empire.  Here's a brief summary of today's  updates, including the board's actions on Palmdale to LA and LA to San Diego sections: 

CHSRA board approved the Supplemental Alternatives Analysis presented by the Palmdale to LA project team -- this included:

·     Two tunnel options and one surface/elevated option along existing railroad near LA River and Rio de Los Angeles Park Burbank Buena Vista

·     Branford and San Fernando station locations to move forward

·     More study before recommendations for Sylmar to Palmdale

The Los Angeles to Anaheim section project team provided an update with no board action required:

·     Authority to work with area communities on a “phased approach” to identify projects to improve the corridor and prepare it for high-speed rail

·     Draft Environmental Impact Report expected in Fall 2012 

CHSRA board approved the Preliminary Alternatives Analysis presented by the Los Angeles to San Diego team, which included: 



·     More than 500 miles of potential alignment eliminated for further study (including Union Pacific and adjacent option)

·     13 station options to carry forward, including San Diego Airport as terminus

·     Working with other SoCal sections for approach into Union Station

Details on each of the agenda items presented today, including the southern California section updates, are available on the CHSRA's board meeting page at http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/2011_March.aspx

It was a full house at today's CHSRA Board meeting