Statewide News New HSR CEO HSR State Fair Exhibit Women in Construction Panel Upcoming Industry Event

Northern California  Caltrain Launches Electric Service Northern California Open House Series Making Sound Decisions Lipkin Named 40 Under 40

Southern California SoCal Transportation Projects On a Roll Spreading the Word on High-Speed Rail Add ‘I Will Ride’ to Your Students’ Syllabus Longtime Contractor Celebrates SoCal Win

Upcoming Events Upcoming Events

New Chief Executive Officer at High-Speed Rail

The Authority now has a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who will be joining the agency to lead the nation’s first high-speed rail project. Ian Choudri was appointed by the Authority’s Board of Directors on August 8 to oversee the project as the Authority works to deliver an operational high-speed rail line in the Central Valley between 2030 and 2033. Choudri brings more than 30 years’ experience in the transportation sector, including working on high-speed rail projects in France and Spain.

After the announcement, Authority Board Chair Tom Richards said, “After an extensive national search, we’re proud to have selected Ian Choudri as the next CEO for the California High-Speed Rail Authority. His strong understanding of complex transportation projects will help build on the progress we’ve been making and lead the organization forward on a path to passenger service. Mr. Choudri will replace outgoing CEO Brian Kelly who has led the Authority for the last six years, completing 30 years of public service to the State of California. He significantly advanced the project in his time, and we wish him all the best in retirement.”

Incoming CEO Choudri added, “I’m humbled by today’s Board of Directors decision. This is a once-in-a-lifetime project that has the attention of the nation. I look forward to joining the ranks of the dedicated employees at the Authority, rolling up my sleeves and working collectively to make our mark on high-speed rail in California. Let’s keep building and get this done.”

 

 

Getting People Excited for High-Speed Rail

This summer, the Authority hosted its first ever high-speed rail interactive exhibit at the 2024 California State Fair in Sacramento. The exhibit offered visitors the opportunity to experience the life-size train mock-up, talk to staff about the purpose of the mockup and the various amenities of the future trains, and sit and test different components that will be incorporated into the final designs – like seat configurations and the kids play area. The train was put to the test with ADA compatibility as numerous motorized wheelchair and scooter users came through the exhibit. Visitors were impressed with the space through the aisles, the multifunctional kids’ area and the numerous DIY facts put up through the model.

Visitors to the exhibit also received a sneak peek at the future station designs for Merced, Fresno, Kings/Tulare, and Bakersfield stations. From opening day to closing night, we had more than 50,000 visitors come through the exhibit to talk to us about how they were excited about the future of high-speed rail in California. Thank you to all who came by to visit. Check out some of the select photos and check out this video for a closer look if you missed any of the fun.

 

Women Share Their Paths to Success in the Construction Field

The State Fair also provided the Authority with an opportunity to host a panel discussion led by Authority Board Member Emily Cohen, Executive Vice President of United Contractors. Panel members including Rhonda Ripley, Journeyman Carpenter; Desrae Ruiz, Journeyman Ironworker; Jennifer Clinkenbeard, Surveyor – Crew Chief; Alicia Henley, Journeyman Laborer; and Tara Garner, Labor Photographer, as they shared their pathways, challenges, and opportunities in a male-dominated industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, only 10.9% of the construction workforce are female. As one of the largest and most visible infrastructure projects in the country, the Authority was pleased to be able to host this discussion with the dedicated women working in construction to deliver this historic project.

The Authority is also helping to prepare people for a job in construction by continuing to partner with the city of Selma, the Fresno Economic Development Corporation, the Fresno, Madera, Kings, Tulare Building Trades Council, and the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission to run a pre-apprenticeship program at the Central Valley Training Center. In June, the Authority recognized the latest graduating class, marking a total of 206 graduates to date. Also in July, the Authority announced the completion of two new high-speed rail overcrossings in Fresno County. The Mountain View Avenue overcrossing is 381 feet long and 40 feet wide. The Floral Avenue overcrossing is more than 368 feet long and more than 40 feet wide. Both structures will take traffic over the BNSF railroad and future high-speed rail tracks.

 

Upcoming Opportunity to Learn How to Do Business with High-Speed Rail

This fall, the Authority will host its 3rd Annual Small Business Diversity and Resources Fair at UC Merced on October 23. At this event, the Authority’s procurement teams will provide a look-ahead on major Authority contracts and procurements. The Authority’s Small Business Office will also be on hand to provide opportunities for small businesses to meet Authority staff and high-speed rail prime contractors. There will be face-to-face networking opportunities, meetings with prime contractors, and more. Small businesses are crucial to delivering high-speed rail and events like these are important to provide the knowledge and resources to the small business community that will help them grow in partnership with this project.

UPDATES FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

 

Caltrain Electric Service Launches High-Speed Rail Progress

In a celebration decades-in-the-making, California celebrated a huge leap forward in delivering early benefits of high-speed rail by switching from diesel to electric trains from San Francisco to San Jose.

Incoming California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) CEO, Ian Choudri, joined Governor Gavin Newsom and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi to help mark the debut of Caltrain’s electrified passenger train service in August. The new system will transform rail service in the Bay Area and plays a key role in advancing the state’s high-speed rail system.

The Authority is a proud sponsor of Caltrain electrification from San Francisco to San Jose, having contributed $714 million for the project. The Authority’s investments in Caltrain will allow future California high-speed-rail trains to operate on a shared corridor with Caltrain. The Authority intends to further modernize the rail corridor, including extending electrification from San Jose to Gilroy, add modifications at existing stations, construct a light maintenance facility, and safety upgrades along the tracks and at crossings that will support higher speeds and improved passenger rail service along the entire corridor from San Francisco to Gilroy.

“High-speed rail linked to an electrified Caltrain will not just get Californians where they’re going faster, it’s connecting communities and driving economic growth. The completed Caltrain project is an integral part of high-speed rail and the story California is telling about clean transportation,” Newsom said. “And Californians are already seeing the results for themselves as we electrify Caltrain, finish structures, lay track, design and build stations, and buy trains. We’re making rail real in California.”

“I’m proud to join the Governor, state and federal leaders to mark this important milestone. Let’s keep building on today’s momentum for the future of transportation,” said Choudri.

By switching from diesel to an electric service, Caltrain reduces emissions and enhances capacity. Caltrain estimates that corridor electrification will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 250,000 tons annually, equivalent to taking 55,000 cars off the roads.

Once electrified Caltrain services starts:

• Express trains will operate in under an hour, compared to 65 minutes today.
• Local trains will operate in 75 minutes, compared to 100 minutes today.
• 16 stations will have service every 15 to 20 min in peak periods, compared to only 7 today.
• Every station will have service every 30 min mid-day, evenings and weekends, compared to hourly today.
• Construction began in July 2017. Full passenger service is slated to begin in late September.

 

Northern California Open Houses Return

The Authority’s Northern California Regional Office is hosting a series of in-person open houses in the Bay Area and Gilroy. These Open Houses are an opportunity for members of the public to learn about the status and progress of the high-speed rail project statewide and in Northern California. Each open house will be an informative and engaging drop-in event. Residents are invited to explore detailed maps and visualizations showcasing the planned route, speak directly with the project team, and learn more about project goals, status, and key milestones. Exciting virtual reality tours of train interiors will give visitors a chance to experience high-speed rail.

RSVPS are encouraged at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/california-high-speed-rail-authority-89613039763

 

Making Sound Decisions from Planning to Final Design

“Every engineer loves a challenge and seeing their work get built, and now, we’re getting closer to the finish line,” said Derek Watry, President of Wilson Ihrig, a certified Microbusiness (MB) that will contribute its expertise in acoustics, noise, and vibration on track and overhead contact system final design for the Merced to Bakersfield project section under the newly approved SYSTRA|TYPSA contract.

Based in Emeryville, California the firm of 18 acoustical engineers has a long and successful history with the Authority. Between 2010 and 2022, Wilson Ihrig performed the acoustical studies for the San Francisco to San Jose and San Jose to Merced project sections for ICF, the environmental firm that prepared the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) under contract to HNTB, the prime contractor.

Watry says the firm is looking forward to moving into final track and OCS design and closer to the California High-Speed Rail system being realized.

“It’s like going in with a sharpened pencil,” Watry said. “A big part of engineering is the money. You could say ‘Let’s build 20 feet sound walls everywhere all the time’ and you wouldn’t have a noise problem, but guess what? The price would be astronomical. So, it’s always balancing what works with how much it’s going to cost to build.”

Wilson Ihrig’s approach to noise and vibration control is outlined by the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) guidelines, portions of which were developed by Wilson Ihrig staff in the 1970s and 1980s under contract to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Currently, the firm is also working on station acoustics and noise design for the Merced, Fresno, Kings/Tulare, and Bakersfield stations under contract with station design joint venture team, Foster+Partners and Arup. This work includes the evaluation of speech intelligibility of the public announcement systems within each station, as well as the evaluation of noise and vibration from the station to the neighboring environment.

Under contract to SYSTRA USA, the firm’s work includes support during the design and construction of the track system as well as sound barrier design. It also includes working with the trainset supplier to ensure that the vehicle and track combination will meet the environmental obligations and mitigation requirements.

Watry says it’s difficult to convey how much thought and effort goes into planning major infrastructure projects, but he’s proud of the firm’s contributions to a high-speed rail system that will transform how Californians travel.

“High-speed rail hits the sweet spot connecting cities that are too close to fly and too far to drive,” he said.

 

Northern California Regional Director Named 40 Under 40

On August 15, Northern California Regional Director Boris Lipkin accepted the Silicon Valley Business Journal (SVBJ) 40 Under 40 class of 2024 award. The SVBJ honors business leaders under the age of 40 who made a difference in their communities and industries, and selection criteria include achievements at work and in the field, how honorees model leadership traits, and how they’ve inspired the next several years’ worth of nominees.

Throughout his career, Boris has faced the biggest challenges head on and delivered results that move the Authority closer to delivering the nation’s first high-speed rail. Each role he has served in has come with increasing responsibility, rising to an executive leadership level in the State of California by the age of 30.

At age 23, Boris started working on the California High-Speed Rail project as a consultant developing ridership forecasts, economic analysis, funding plans and strategies to access and secure funding for the project. His innovative thinking and initiative quickly caught the eye of the then CEO. At age 27, he was appointed by Governor Brown as the Authority’s first Deputy Director of Strategic Planning. He worked closely with the CEO to solve some of the biggest challenges, including developing and executing a multistep plan to access $3 billion in state bond funds. Just three years later, at age 30, Boris was trusted and appointed by Governor Brown to lead the development of high-speed rail in Northern California as the Northern California Regional Director and in 2020, was reappointed by Governor Newsom in this position.

In 2022, under his leadership, the Authority environmentally cleared the Northern California region for high-speed rail. He leads the Authority’s partnerships on Caltrain Electrification and The Portal, which will connect the Caltrain corridor and future high-speed rail service to Salesforce Transit Center.

UPDATES FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

 

Southern California Transportation Projects Speed Forward

It’s already been a huge year for transportation projects in a region serving 10 million residents. Here’s a look at milestones reached in 2024:

JANUARY

Rosecrans/Marquardt Bridge: The new Rosecrans Avenue Bridge opened, carrying vehicles over a busy railway in Santa Fe Springs. Funded in part by the High-Speed Rail Authority, the overpass is being led by LA Metro, with partner agencies including Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, the city of Santa Fe Springs and Caltrans.

Hollywood Burbank Airport: Ground breaking began for a Hollywood Burbank Airport replacement terminal. The new terminal is being built about 70 feet above the future underground location of a high-speed rail station in Burbank.

APRIL

Brightline West: Brightline West broke ground on a high-speed rail line that will connect Las Vegas to Southern. The 218-mile route reduces a sometimes-five-hour automobile journey to a two-hour high-speed rail trip.

MAY

Los Angeles to Anaheim Project Section: On May 16, the High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors was presented with the staff-recommended Preferred Alternative, which is called the Shared Passenger Track Alternative A, for the Los Angeles to Anaheim Project Section. It will be identified as the preferred route in the upcoming draft environmental impact report/environmental impact statement.

JUNE

Link Union Station: The draft environmental impact statement/supplemental environmental impact report was released for public review and comment for construction at Los Angeles Union Station. The Authority is helping fund the effort and is the federal sponsor for the project, as the improvements include new run-through tracks to the south of the station and other improvements that will make the arrival of high-speed rail possible.

JULY

High Desert Corridor Project: Union leaders and elected officials signed agreements to construct, operate, and maintain the High Desert Corridor (HDC) high-speed rail project in Palmdale. The HDC is a proposed transportation route connecting the Antelope Valley in Los Angeles County with Victor Valley in San Bernardino County. It is a 54-mile high-speed rail project between two fast-growing regions.

 

Summer Outreach: Spreading the Word

Our staff was busy this summer, traveling around California to meet with stakeholders and the general public alike to provide updates on our project. Is there an event coming up you think we should consider joining? Send an email to jim.patrick@hsr.ca.gov with your suggestion for an event. Authority staff typically bring stickers, coloring books, maps, factsheets and more to educate folks on what’s happening with our project.

Here’s a look at what we were up to this summer:

Original Farmers Market: June 25, 2024

The California High-Speed Rail Authority engaged with visitors at the historic Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles. Many inquired about the timeline for the San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim alignment and the geotechnical challenges in Southern California, particularly the need for extensive tunneling through mountainous areas. One couple, enthusiastic about the project, remarked, “We’ve been on a bullet train before, and we’re looking forward to this one!” Authority staff also visited Singapore’s Banana Leaf, a longtime food spot at the market, and can confirm the satay chicken remains better than average.

CA State Fair Exhibit: July 12-28

Southern California staff worked at the Sacramento summer staple, proudly showcasing a train mock-up at the California State Fair. Visitors frequently asked about the blue and yellow alignments on our maps. The blue alignment (Phase 1) covers the core route from San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim, while the yellow alignment (Phase 2) represents future extensions to Sacramento and San Diego. Attendees were particularly excited about the projected completion of the Merced to Bakersfield segment.

LA Metro TCAP: July 26, 2024

The Authority was honored to participate in the LA Metro Transportation Career Academy Program summer program for students. Southern California Regional Director LaDonna DiCamillo and Deputy Chief of External Affairs Alice Rodriguez delivered a presentation on the Statewide Project and the I Will Ride program. Students asked about the LA Metro Link Union Station project, safety protocols, and how to get involved with the I Will Ride program. Many students visited the Authority’s informational table during lunch, expressing strong interest in transportation careers.

Women’s Transportation Seminar: July 30, 2024

The Authority participated in the Women’s Transportation Seminar at the Marriott Long Beach, where LaDonna DiCamillo and Central Valley Regional Director Garth Fernandez provided an overview of the high-speed rail project. With over 70 stakeholders in attendance, the presentation covered progress across Northern California, the Central Valley, and Southern California, including environmental clearance achievements, Central Valley construction updates, upcoming procurement of trains and tracks, funding developments and more. During the Q&A, DiCamillo encouraged sharing project updates within communities to enhance public awareness.

Gloria Grand Molina Park: August 8, 2024

The Authority conducted outreach at Gloria Grand Molina Park’s weekly food truck lunch event for the first time. Some Angelenos, initially mistaking the Authority for the Brightline project, were eager to learn about the differences. You probably already know the difference, but here’s a quick refresher: Brightline is a privately funded company building a new line from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga; the Authority is building a line from San Francisco to LA, with a possible connection to Brightline’s service in Palmdale. Attendees also inquired about the prioritization of the Central Valley segment from Merced to Bakersfield, with the Authority explaining the region’s flat terrain as a strategic advantage for testing.

 

Empower SoCal Students with the ‘I Will Ride’ Classroom Program

Attention teachers and student development professionals in Southern California: Inspire the next generation of transportation leaders and innovators through our exclusive I Will Ride student engagement program! This one-of-a-kind initiative offers students a chance to engage directly with professionals at the Authority.

How to engage:

1. Students can sign up independently online to I Will Ride (no direct engagement with HSR staff).
2. Teachers can use online resources to add to their curriculum (no direct engagement with HSR staff).
3. Reach out to HSR staff to see if we can schedule a classroom presentation or participate in an outreach event (direct engagement with HSR staff) or become an education ambassador/education stakeholder.

By encouraging students to participate in the I Will Ride program or scheduling an outreach event or classroom presentation, students are equipped with unparalleled opportunities and knowledge about the high-speed rail industry to:

1. Experience Real-World Learning: The high-speed rail project offers students a living classroom to explore engineering, environmental science, urban planning, and public policy. Students will get firsthand knowledge and skills beyond the textbook through site visits, guest lectures, and interactive workshops.
2. Develop Practical Skills: Equip students with the professional competencies they need to succeed. The program includes internships, mentorships, and networking events that will help them build their resumes and develop essential skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership, giving them a competitive edge in their future careers.
3. Promote Sustainability Awareness: High-speed rail is a sustainable transportation model that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, eases traffic congestion, and promotes economic growth. By participating, students will become stewards for sustainability and environmental justice in their communities.
4. Foster Community and Collaboration: Join a network of educators and student development professionals dedicated to enriching student experiences. Collaborate with like-minded peers to share resources, strategies, and success stories.

We invite you to take an active role in shaping the future by promoting the I Will Ride program in your classrooms and student development initiatives. Your support is crucial in helping students discover their passions, connect with industry leaders, and contribute to a project that will have a lasting impact on California. Together, we can empower the next generation to lead the way in sustainable transportation and innovation.

We encourage students to sign-up today and start their journey with the California High-Speed Rail Authority. Visit our website at https://hsr.ca.gov/i-will-ride/ to learn more and find steps for student registration.

Let’s empower the next generation to lead the way in sustainable transportation and innovation. If you’re an educator interested in becoming a program ambassador or want to learn more about how to promote the program, please email Public Information Officer Crystal Royval at crystal.royval@hsr.ca.gov.

 

Arellano Celebrates a High-Speed Rail Victory 30 Years in the Making

Genoveva Arellano doesn’t often show a lot of emotion while on the job, but it was impossible to hide her satisfaction after the High-Speed Rail Authority’s Board of Directors approved the Palmdale-to-Burbank section at its June meeting. The unanimous approval vote was the culmination of decades of work by many people, but none had a more personal stake in the outcome than Arellano.

The community outreach firm she started 30 years ago, Arellano Associates, has worked on high-speed rail since the mid-1990s, when the Authority was a newly created agency studying the possibility of building a line in California. As a small business operator in Southern California, Arellano worked on the Los Angeles to San Diego line in the aughts and moved on to the Palmdale-to-Burbank section.

Arellano remembers board meetings with hundreds of attendees, each eager to make a statement about the Palmdale-to-Burbank section. Over the years, Arellano talked to dozens of city and county officials, she briefed legislators, and she led community meetings where people had a lot to say about the project. After all those hard meetings and late nights, June’s board approval felt summitting a mountain or winning an Olympic race.

“I have the body blows from this project. It feels really incredible, not only to get the project adopted, but to have good relationships with stakeholders,” Arellano said. “I couldn’t believe it. I was emotional when it passed because I couldn’t believe the arc of going from where we started to having people applaud when the board approved this section.

“We went through a lot. Underscore we.”

She’s quick to dole out team credit for big wins. The Palmdale-to-Burbank win was a long time coming, but that’s the norm in public transportation. Arellano started working on transportation projects in 1990, when she worked with Cordoba Corporation.

Arellano left Coroba in 1994, but she’s quick to point out there was no master plan to start her own business. She simply had a really, really big Rolodex filled with names and phone numbers of influential people in transportation. It didn’t matter that she was a Latina woman in an industry dominated by men. There was work to do and she was going to take care of it.

“I was naive enough to believe that because I was smart and organized and a hard worker, that would be enough,” Arellano said. “However, I was fully aware of the feminist movement and the women who came before me, and I admired them tremendously.”

She cites women like Gloria Molina, the former chair of the LA County Board of Supervisors, with paving the way for women in public transportation. And it was another woman, Valerie Martinez, who called Arellano one day in 1994 asking if she’d help a new state agency – the High-Speed Rail Authority.

In the 30 years since, Arellano Associates has grown by necessity, not out of ambition, to employ dozens of people. But it’s Arellano herself who shows up at all the Authority’s major events in Southern California. High-speed rail is an important project in general, and it’s something of a passion for Arellano, who believes in showing up for milestone moments.

“It takes years and years and years to really move the needle,” she said.

The passage of Palmdale-to-Burbank means Arellano’s focus is now squarely on earning the environmental clearance Los Angeles to Anaheim, the last uncleared segment of Phase I. It will involve more meetings, more phone calls and more community events. But in the end, the needle will move again, and Arellano will be there to see it.

 

Upcoming Events

Here are upcoming events that you won’t want to miss!

Streetsblog Anniversary Party
September 12, 2024 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Manny’s in the Mission
https://eventbrite.com/e/streetsblog-san-francisco-and-streetsblog-california-birthday-party-tickets-925594487027?aff=oddtdtcreator

Fullerton Farmers’ Market
September 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Fullerton Community Center
340 W. Commonwealth Ave.
Fullerton, CA. 92832
https://www.cityoffullerton.com/government/departments/parks-recreation/city-events/wednesday-certified-farmer-s-market

San Mateo County Open House
September 18 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Burlingame Community Center
850 Burlingame Avenue
Burlingame, CA 94010
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/san-mateo-county-open-house-california-high-speed-rail-tickets-999731191907?aff=ebdsoporgprofile&lang=en-us&locale=en_US&status=30&view=listing

San Jose Open House
September 19 from 4 to 6 p.m.

160 W. Santa Clara St. Suite 350
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/san-jose-open-house-california-high-speed-rail-tickets-999646598887?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Gilroy Open House
October 22 from 5 to 7 p.m.

South Valley Middle School
7881 Murray Ave. Gilroy, CA 95020
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gilroy-open-house-california-high-speed-rail-tickets-999652897727?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

San Francisco Open House
October 23 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Salesforce Transit Center Grand Hall
425 Mission St. San Francisco, CA 94105
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/san-francisco-open-house-california-high-speed-rail-tickets-999678073027?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

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