FRESNO, Calif. — Despite federal funding uncertainty, California High-Speed Rail Authority officials say they “remain committed and aggressive in moving this historic project forward while actively pursuing additional funding.”
The authority made that assertion in a statement to Trains News Wire following a board of directors meeting Thursday (Jan. 23, 2025) at the authority’s Fresno headquarters.The organization says it continues to “engage with the California Legislature about opportunities to improve our ability to deliver this transformative work.”
Also on tap this year is trainset procurement. The authority “expects to issue notice of proposed award this spring, with anticipated contract execution and Notice to Proceed happening as soon as this summer,” the statement says.
Last year, the authority’s board of directors approved issuance of a Request for Proposals for a supply-maintain contract for trainsets, a driving simulator, and related services. Alstom Transportation and Siemens Mobility were pre-qualified as candidates [see “California High-Speed Rail board approves …,” News Wire, April 13, 2024].
Ian Choudri, the recently installed authority CEO, told the board the authority is looking to connect with Brightline West through the High Desert Corridor between Palmdale and Victor Valley. “We are working to take the benefit of (common) standards and types of construction we will be doing. Especially with the High Desert Corridor, we are discussing how we can help them and optimize the cost to taxpayers,” he says.
Earlier this month, the organization announced the beginning of its railhead project in Kern County [see “Ceremony marks start of track laying …,” News Wire, Jan. 7, 2025]. Choudri says a track contractor will be selected by the second quarter of 2026, when the transloading yard adjacent to BNSF Railway tracks at Merced Avenue south of Wasco, Calif., will be complete. Clearing of an almond grove on the site is just beginning.
The highlight of the session was a 2024 Economic Impact Analysis in which the authority’s Derek Boughton documented how the project has generated 1,034,000 job-years (five job-years can be five people working for one year or one person working for five years), $86.3 billion in labor income, and $221.8 billion in economic output.
There are currently close to 30 active construction sites. By the end of 2025, all 100 structures eliminating 55 at-grade rail crossings on the four Central Valley construction packages between Madera, Calif., and the site of the railyard south of Wasco will be well underway or complete.
@ Charles: I don’t think the Lackawanna had to design for not only high speeds but for significant seismic risk as well. While I agree that modern bridges have lost their ability for eye pleasing design with a more utilitarian approach, today its mostly about cost.
John, the aesthetically pleasing details for concrete bridges (or retaining walls) that any highway department comes up with fall within a percentage for art, something like 2%.
Since you seem to be a NE Illinois resident (from your posts) Wisconsin IH 94 in Kenosha and Racine Counties isn’t too far from you. Go take a look! Further north the Marquette and Zoo Interchanges in Milwaukee County. Bridges, retaining walls, and noise walls (the last-named termed “sound walls” in many states).
The utilitarian designs were the 1960’s and the 1970’s (ugh). By the 1980’s, highway departments began rediscovering what the Lackawanna Railroad had accomplished many decades earlier.
As for seismic designs, yes, that’s a major California skill Wisconsin doesn’t need, but no, it’s no excuse for ugly.
Compare the concrete eyesore in the first photo to the Lackawanna viaducts in a rcent TRAINS issue.
Seems that CalHSR is totally consistent. Everything it touches turns to C*R*A*P. CalHSR is the only builder on the face of the earth that doesn’t know how to make a concrete structure look decent. There are several concrete structure designs (bridges, retaining walls, and viducts) on road and highway projects within a few miles of my home that look just fine.