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emoscientist.bsky.social
The CA High Speed Rail Authority is doing much better on key project delivery reforms (like bringing staff in-house) than local agencies that are stonewalling reform. If you truly care about efficient transit projects, you should support its continued existence. #FundHSR
calelectricrail.org Californians for Electric Rail @calelectricrail.org · Apr 25
Agencies objected strongly to these last two recommendations, in particular increased state-wide capacity and funding construction only after design is complete (RR7). You can read the full TTTF recommendations here: calsta.ca.gov/-/media/cals...
Transit should be operationally and financially sustainable RR. Improve the design, planning, and coordination process for capital projects RR.1. Form an early stakeholder coalition to build support for the route/design, streamline negotiations, and minimize the risk of delay and rising costs RR.2. Engage stakeholders early and review design prior to construction phases, Limit design changes once near-final design is chosen. Require permitting agencies to engage or waive rights to future legal objections to project if they do not engage in the earlier phases. RR.3. Establish clear and transparent cost sharing schedule for improvement requirement requests by jurisdictions or regions. RR.4. Conduct surveys early with all stakeholders to limit site- specific challenges in route design. RR.5. Balance efficiency of using existing rights of way, with project access and ridership goals RR.6. Condition construction funding on cost-per-anticipated- rider criteria RR.7. Allocate state funds for design but not construction phase as a matter of having a state-gate policy on advancing projects. RR.8. Formalize service-led planning to reduce construction costs and develop clear roles and responsibilities between state, regional authorities, and transit agencies or local municipalities RR.9. Explore ways to allow for alternative procurement methods, such as Construction Manager/ General Contractor (CMGC) or Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), statewide, rather than just at certain agencies, per current law. RR.10. Prioritize investment decisions to avoid duplicative projects and align all projects to shared vision RR.11. Encourage State to identify and develop business case guidelines and standards that can be used by lead agencies, including regions and local jurisdictions SS. Streamline land acquisition and permitting requirements and timelines SS.1. Where allowed and helpful, utilize NEPA oversight delegation authority at Caltrans or CAHSR to complete NEPA in an expedited manner SS.2. Extend & expand existing transit project CEQA exemptions and index project cost limits to inflation SS.3. Enter agreements with jurisdictions to clarify expectations before design is finalized SS.4. Allow infrastructure owners (inc. transit agencies) to have master permitting authority for priority rail projects to reduce delays and costs. Alternatively allow for by-right permitting of certain types of transit projects to prevent extractive permitting processes by infrastructure owners. SS.5. Invest in reducing timelines for permits and approvals across multiple jurisdictions to avoid delay by providing funds to both agencies and infrastructure owning jurisdictions. SS.6. Streamline permitting requirements within the public right of way, include the use of standardized forms and commit to timelines to ensure that projects don’t get stuck in review SS.7. Structure or create state grants to reward transit agencies that use efficient procurement strategies and deliver projects effectively. TT. Improve project delivery state capacity and organizational structure TT.1. Use line-item procurement to avoid leverage issues with contractors TT.2. Utilize project delivery structures that are appropriate for the project, including alternatives to Design Bid Bid or Design Bid Build where appropriate. TT.3. Form regional collaboratives to develop institutional expertise, available for project consultation TT.4. Form 'Center of Excellence' within California government agencies to loan engineers to necessary projects TT.5. Ensure staff and management capacity matches project scale before bidding TT.6. Hire and utilize in-house engineering staff rather than contracting out engineering work TT.7. Hire staff with procurement expertise, delegate authority for non-critical decisions TT.8. Establish megaproject teams to convene all stakeholders and execute on larger megaprojects TT.9. Fund staff capacity enhancement and extensive advance planning rather than grant funding on a per project basis. TT.10. Consider options for new project delivery organizations at a statewide or regional level that could build scale, expertise needed to deliver megaprojects
May 1, 2025 at 11:35 PM
calelectricrail.org
Reminder that California High Speed Rail
a) has built 119 miles of structure, with track-laying starting this year
b) has a lower cost premium than many US transit projects
c) costs half as much as the equivalent in highways and airports
Let's follow through and make the dream a reality! #FundHSR
June 20, 2025 at 6:29 PM
calelectricrail.org
Yet another piece of infrastructure critical for safe operation at 220 mph in progress! Let's finish the job and get the rest done! #FundHSR #FinishTheLine
cahsra.bsky.social CA High-Speed Rail 🚄💨 @cahsra.bsky.social · May 20
UPDATE: Hanford Viaduct |📍 Kings County

Crews recently resumed placing the remaining 112 girders! This is no easy task as some of these girders can be up to 10ft tall & weigh between 95-100,000 lbs.

🏗 Total pre-cast girders needed: 978
*Manufactured by Dragados-Flatiron Joint Venture #BuildCA
May 28, 2025 at 1:36 AM
calelectricrail.org
Trump wants to kill California High Speed Rail. Are we going to let him? No! CA needs to #FundHSR and finish the line, no matter what MAGA says. www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Trump says US will not pay for California high-speed rail
The Trump administration will not pay for a high-speed rail line planned between Los Angeles and San Francisco, President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday, citing cost overruns.
www.reuters.com
May 6, 2025 at 7:23 PM
calelectricrail.org
Some fixes to 2 and 3 have already been implemented. We can fix 4 and 5 this legislative session by passing #SB445 and renewing Cap and Trade to #FundHSR. But don't let project opponents tell you they had nothing to do with increased costs.
May 5, 2025 at 11:04 PM
calelectricrail.org
We can help fix this this year! Cap and Trade reauthorization this year can guarantee consistent funding for the project, and the High Speed Rail Authority has a plan to supplement that with private funding that can get high speed rail built faster. #FundHSR apnews.com/article/cali...
California high-speed rail leader pushes state to support private investment
The new chief executive of California’s embattled high-speed rail project says it is time to get serious about how to pay for it.
apnews.com
May 1, 2025 at 11:16 PM
calelectricrail.org
California can't afford to *not* build High Speed Rail. CA High Speed Rail will save the state $100 billion on airport and highway investments - not including the steep economic costs of air pollution and climate change. #FundHSR
graph showing cost ranges for high speed rail, which ranges from $89B-$128B with a base of $106B, vs the equivalent Highway and Air capacity which ranges from $179B-253B with a base of $211B
April 24, 2025 at 8:51 PM
calelectricrail.org
A supermajority of voters, California's governor, and Democratic leadership in the Legislature all support California High Speed Rail. As Trump and Duffy try to override the will of the people, let's band together to #FundHSR and #FinishTheLine.
robertcruickshank.com Robert Cruickshank @robertcruickshank.com · Apr 17
California’s high speed rail project is extremely popular, with two thirds of voters supporting it. That’s huge growth from 2008, when $10B in bonds passed with 52% (though CA HSR has always had majority support)
Forget Trump. Democrats are still high-speed rail's biggest threat
While Trump and Musk are attacking the $100 billion plan, it's Democrats who hold the real power over its fate — and they're not fully on board.
www.politico.com
April 17, 2025 at 7:21 PM