NEWS RELEASE: California High-Speed Rail Recognizes Earth Day

April 22, 2023

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – As California continues to lead the way in sustainability, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) is recognizing Earth Day by highlighting continued progress in delivering the most advanced, green and equitable transportation system in the country.

“We’re creating the largest and greenest infrastructure project in the nation, a true electrified high-speed rail system capable of speeds at over 200 mph and powered by 100% renewable energy,” said Margaret Cederoth, Director of Planning and Sustainability for the Authority. “We have the unique opportunity to propel California into a cleaner future in our ambitious pursuit of carbon neutral objectives.”

The Authority’s most recent annual Sustainability Report highlights several key environmental milestones, including the preservation and restoration of 2,972 acres of land, keeping more than 420,000 pounds of criteria air pollutants out of the lungs of some of California’s most vulnerable and impacted residents. The Authority has recycled nearly 93% of all waste produced while building the project, an unprecedented result for construction at this scale.

The Authority continues to go above and beyond current practice on job sites, requiring that contractors use only zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) in their on-road fleets in all future construction contracts and requiring contractors to work with suppliers and subcontractors that have on-road hauling fleets with ZEVs. The Authority has set the goal of 100% ZEV usage for off-road equipment by 2035 and is in the process of identifying candidate sites where construction could be all-electric.

The implementation of these strategies is aligned with California’s overall climate goals, driving down planet-warming pollution, keeping harmful particulates out of the air in communities with historic poor air quality, and transforming our transportation system into a sustainable community connector.

A copy of the most recent Sustainability Report, including other resources such as fact sheets, can be found at https://hsr.ca.gov/programs/green-practices-sustainability/sustainability-report/

The Authority has begun work to extend the 119 miles under construction to 171 miles of future electrified high-speed rail from Merced to Bakersfield. To date, more than 10,000 construction jobs have been created since the start of the project. There are more than 30 active construction sites in California’s Central Valley, with the Authority having environmentally cleared 422 miles of the high-speed rail program from the Bay Area to the Los Angeles Basin.

For more on construction, visit: www.buildhsr.com

The following link contains recent video, animations, photography, press center resources and latest renderings: https://hsra.app.box.com/s/vyvjv9hckwl1dk603ju15u07fdfir2q8

These files are all available for free use, courtesy of the California High-Speed Rail Authority.