VIDEO RELEASE: San Jose State Summer Program High School Students Tour California High-Speed Rail Construction

August 14, 2023

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) today released a video highlighting a recent construction tour with high school students from the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) summer program at San Jose State University. The tour of high-speed rail construction sites in the Central Valley was part of an intensive three-week program that focused on transportation and environmental curriculum with presentations from California transit leaders and project site visits.

                                                 Click to view video.

MTI makes a concerted effort to promote the program among Title 1 schools and others in the Bay Area. Summer institute students receive college credits for their class participation and site tours are free of charge.

“Engaging with and providing unique opportunities to a diverse and young population is essential to the success of our program and a key component to the Authority’s diversity, equity and inclusion goals,” said Authority CEO Brian Kelly. “There is tremendous value in hosting student construction tours and panels with professional staff. Students are the future leaders and riders of high-speed rail in California – we value their input and always appreciate the enthusiasm they bring to tours and discussions.”

The students spent a full day with Authority staff and high-speed rail experts from DB Engineering & Consulting USA, part of Deutsche Bahn AG, the Authority’s Early Train Operator assisting in developing the system. They learned about the future Fresno high-speed rail station, grade separations, train interior designs, university engineering studies and closed the day with a visit to the award-winning San Joaquin River Viaduct.

“Workforce development is a vital part of what we do at the Mineta Transportation Institute to prepare for high-speed rail in California,” said Executive Director Karen Philbrick. “Our partnership with the Authority allows us to inspire the next generation of transportation leaders with life-changing construction tours.”

Click here to watch the video of their day.

For more information on the Authority’s award-winning I Will Ride student outreach program, visit www.hsr.ca.gov/i-will-ride.

Since the start of construction, the Authority has created more than 11,000 construction jobs, a majority going to residents from the Central Valley.

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. 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 information 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.