Submission DateSubmission MethodFirst NameLast NameStakeholder Comments/Issues
02-08-2022WebsiteAllardJansenI’m a housing developer and we just finished 34 residential units at 8 million dollars. The bullet train cost are reaching $100,000,000,000 that’s 100 billion!! So, if I do my math correctly 34 residential units is to 8 million as 450,000 residential units is to 100 billion! Think about that! Stop the train, build more homes! ALLARD JANSEN AIA Principal Architect & Housing developer Allard Jansen Architecture + Development 4714 Marlbourough Drive |San Diego|CA 92116 Email| allard@teamaja.com | web www.teamaja.com 858-245-7152
02-08-2022WebsiteDougClarkeAs a 74 year old native Californian, I continue to have serious reservations as to the completion of this project in my lifetime. Obvious delays, increased costs and feasibility of concept, continue to plague this promised plan. Really...in what year will it extend from a Merced-Bakersfield line?
02-09-2022WebsitedalesarverThis is the biggest rip off in the history of CA. It appears to be a big transfer of our tax dollars to political cronies for a big loser.
02-09-2022WebsiteAdamWoodHello sirs and madams, I read your draft business plan released to the public yesterday. There is a graphic and table that says there is a 99.4% chance of profitability in 2040 when taking into account operating costs. It shows the 10th percentile projection for Net Operating Cash Flow to be $465 million in 2019 dollars, meaning that with 90% confidence the plan predicts Net Operating Cash Flow will be higher than that sum. I am willing to bet any amount of money you desire that Net Operating Cash Flow will be less than $465 million in 2019 dollars, in 2040. Please let me know if you wish to accept a wager.
02-09-2022WebsiteMitchellMossWhy are you not reconsidering the Bay Area connection options? Much has changed since the decision years ago to route HSR through Pacheco Pass. Interim connectivity is already planned using ACE and San Joaquins - why not reopen consideration of one or both of these as the route to Bay Are? The Link21 initiative opens up the possibility of using a northern approach from Stockton to Oakland and under the bay. Redirect funds for single purpose pacheco corridor to a multi use line that takes full advantage of the second Bay Area tunnel. Caltrain can be used to extend the line to San Jose as a terminus. Tehachapi tunnels to So Cal are only option but Pacheco seems a wasteful folly with other options now on the table.
02-09-2022WebsiteVasoyapravinConsult reliance infrastructure India for additional line tributary to built cost effectively Dr vasoya
02-10-2022WebsiteSariBronerThe east coast rail system keeps all the towns and communities along it thriving. California has long stretches where there is no public transportation and people are more isolated. Will there also be local stops along the high speed rail for local trains? Or offshoots? I believe that if Californians know that poor or isolated communities will be connected to each other, giving individuals many more opportunities to travel, work, socialize with others in the state, it would allay their cost worries. California does not feel whole in the way many east coasts states that have rail feel. I hope that Californians can experience this. New public projects are so rare in this era! I’m utterly ecstatic that this project has been undertaken!
02-10-2022WebsiteTIMHICKEYThe cost increases are unfortunate but necessary. This is going to be an important improvement to our state transportation needs.
02-10-2022WebsiteTIMHICKEYThe cost increases are unfortunate but necessary. This is going to be an important improvement to our state transportation needs.
02-10-2022WebsiteChristopherJonesI fully support the CAHSR's 2022 Plan for interim Merced to Bakersfield service as the first step to bringing high speed rail to California. However, I would urge the Authority to at least consider if it is at all plausible to launch revenue service in July 2028 to coincide with the start of the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. This has been something I have kept advocating for, resembling how the Japanese launched the first Shinkansen at the start of the 1964 Tokyo Summer Games, and how having the global spotlight provided by the Olympics could bring huge publicity to California's high speed rail project, as well as initial ridership from domestic and foreign tourists visiting LA for the Games wanting to experience America's first true high speed rail line.
I have written an op-ed on the subject that I submitted to High Speed Rail Alliance's blog site, which I included here for you to read. I hope that the CAHSR is at least discussing how California's high speed rail project could play into the 2028 LA Olympic Games, and what they could mean for the project. Thank you.
02-11-2022WebsitemiriammorganPlease abandon this project. It is a money pit and the funds can be put to much better use; such as local/municipal transportation needs. Even if the high-speed rail project is completed, it will not be used. And the projected completion date closely mimics the plan for all electric vehicles to be used in California, thus making its environmental impact moot. Actually, when looking at the environmental cost of cement, land use, train car manufacturing, etc., the high-speed rail project is a bad environmental option for California. Where as funding local/municipal transportation needs can be done more timely and have much greater positive environmental impact.
02-12-2022WebsiteAlanMarlingThe cost of investing in public transportation is always lower than the cost of doing nothing. With California burning in increasingly catastrophic wildfires, we must prioritize energy-efficient transportation. Even private cars that are entirely run by green energy will be insufficient to meet the climate crisis. We need a comprehensive system of public transportation.
02-14-2022WebsiteTonyKnightThe high speed train should be focused on getting people between Los Angeles and San Francisco ASAP. That is what the people of California voted for. The amount of time this is taking and the escalating costs make this the joke of the entire nation. The train is an important component to fighting climate change in California by getting people out of their cars and out of airplanes that clog the roads and the sky between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Please get focused and get it done!
02-15-2022WebsiteRaphaelGarciaGreetings California High-Speed Rail Authority, My name is Raphael Garcia and I am 22 years old. I live in Rancho Cucamonga, California and I recently graduated with a double major in Political Science and International Studies with a minor in Spanish, at the University of California, Irvine. I recently studied abroad for a year in Madrid, Spain, and I was captivated with the efficiency of high speed rail from Madrid to Barcelona. In the train I boiled with envy with how Europeans could ride trains in what seemed every direction, with efficient and cheap public transport options. At home in Southern California I was confined to my metal cage on wheels, or a car, if I wanted to get anywhere. My hope is that California continues to be an envy of the world with high speed rail, which would support the state’s efforts for improved urban planning and infrastructure development.
02-16-2022WebsiteJessieHaglerPlease make the train we voted for the train you have yet to build the train we want the train thank you
02-16-2022WebsiteMoisesAcevesGet the project built. This is a much needed project to connect important metropolitan regions of the west.
02-18-2022Project EmailJoeLacapI fully support getting HSR in California, but your inability to actually build it in a timely fashion is killing your public support. Triple the number of workers doing construction, get an order of magnitude more heavy equipment for them to work with. Your construction timelines are unacceptably slow. Remember when we built the Transcontinental Railroad in a few years? It's entirely possible to build a rail line in a reasonable amount of time, so stop wasting it and get more shovels. Or maybe just have Spain or Japan build it for you since they know what they're doing. Or even just let Brightline do it for you.
02-18-2022Project EmailseanmendelsonHello, I voted for the high-speed rail in '08 with the hopes that by the time my one-year-old was 18, he would be able to take it to and from southern California to see family safely and efficiently. California used to be the most progressive place for renewable energy, but we have fallen behind. This is a time to take a stand and make more efficient and less polluting ways to travel AT ALL COSTS. It's a beautiful opportunity to show the world that California wants to be a leader in the business of SAVING the PLANET for future generations. This is more than just travel, it's a bold symbol to the commitment to a climate safe future. Thank youSean Mendelson
02-18-2022WebsiteHilaryMusajiTo whom it may concern, I voted for this High Speed Rail in 2008, my first election after turning 18. I think this is a wonderful idea and will add so much to the quality of life of so many Californians, and likely draw plenty of tourism as well! As someone who lives in the bay area with family in LA, you better believe I and my family will be riding this train multiple times a year to save the headache of flying, driving the 5, or taking the pleasant but sloooooow Amtrak. Thank you for your consideration! Hilary Musaji 94706
02-23-2022WebsiteVinceFongSee attached.
02-28-2022WebsiteGregoryMantellJust build it!! Thank you.
03-04-2022Project EmailAnnetteMurrayAnnette Murray 12:23 PM (23 minutes ago) to Draft-BP2022 Hello, I would like to add my support to the high-speed rail system. As a parent of college students in Southern California, driving from Northern California has been abominable these last few years. I am that driver that loves the middle lane to avoid others leaving the freeway or those that want to run me over. Driving I-5 puts that out of the question. Please do what you can to persuade residents of California that this is beneficial to all. best regards, Annette Murray On Thu, Feb 24, 2022 at 12:23 PM Annette Murray wrote: > Hello, > I would like to add my support to the high-speed rail system. As a parent > of college students in Southern California, driving from Northern > California has been abominable these last few years. I am that driver that > loves the middle lane to avoid others leaving the freeway or those that > want to run me over. Driving I-5 puts that out of the question. Please do > what you can to persuade residents of California that this is beneficial to > all. > > best regards, > Annette Murray >
02-22-2022February 22 – Assembly HearingMattRobinsonThank you, Mister Chair. Matt Robinson on behalf of Caltrain. As you probably know, Caltrain will soon begin operating the state’s first electrified heavy commuter rail line spanning 51 miles between San Francisco and San Jose. Caltrain supports significantly investing in transportation infrastructure from the State’s projected surplus, consistent with the February 16 letter submitted by the Bay Area’s transportation agencies. Caltrain hopes that any additional State funding will facilitate the completion of the electrification project and we appreciate Mr. Mullin’s comments earlier in committee, as well as Chair Friedman’s. And then finally, Caltrain does, in fact, support the California High-Speed Rail Project and the use of those bond funds to finish the project and advance it in the Central Valley, eventually connecting to a larger state rail network including our system in the Bay Area, thank you for your time.
02-22-2022February 22 – Assembly HearingKeithDunnThank you, Mister Chair. This is Keith Dunn on behalf of the Association of California High-Speed Trains as well as the District Council of Ironworkers. I’m here to speak in support of item 1 and 2 because, in fact, our transportation system does not stop with high-speed rail in the Central Valley and all the other regional needs that would connect into that. Additional investments in the regions, as you’ve been hearing, are critical to maintaining our first in the nation infrastructure, one that’s going to be needed as our state continue to grow. High-speed rail is a critical part of that as we have less air space to transport in state and more crowded highways with dirtier air. The best way to have a climate action plan for the state of California is to build an electrified high-speed rail starting in the Central Valley, and we look forward to continuing to work with you to make sure that happens. Thank you.
02-22-2022February 22 – Assembly HearingJoshShawChair and members, Josh Shaw on behalf of San Francisco Mayor London Breed who commends the Governor’s proposed new investments in transportation, particularly the public transit spending. We also think it’s time to appropriate the remaining Prop 1A bond funds to the California High-Speed Rail Authority, which has been a true partner to us in developing the Caltrain rail corridor and the Salesforce Transit Center. Additionally, we note that our regional transportation planning agency and other Bay Area transportation agencies have identified and communicated to all of you, billions more in active transportation transit capital project and transit operations need and we support their request of you along those lines as well. Thanks for your consideration.
02-22-2022February 22 – Assembly HearingAndresRamirezThank you, Mister Chair and members. Andres Ramirez on behalf of the Transbay Joint Powers Authority calling in to first express support for the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s Draft 2022 Business Plan. As you may know, the TJPA owns and operates the Salesforce Transit Center, slated to be the northern terminus for high-speed rail in San Francisco, and which serves as a transit hub serving multiple operators regional and statewide benefits. As relates to some more immediate actions, we encourage the legislature to strongly consider the full allocation of remaining Prop 1A funds for high-speed rail as well as the funding amounts for the entire 2022/2023 transportation package, as proposed in the Governor’s January budget proposal. Thank you.
02-22-2022February 22 – Assembly HearingMattCreminsThank you, Mister Chairman and members. Matt Cremins here on behalf of the California-Nevada Conference of Operating Engineers. Happy to be here today in strong support of issue one on your agenda related to the High-Speed Rail Authority’s Draft 2022 Business Plan. The operating engineers recognize the tremendous amount of progress that has been made by the Authority on this project over the past three years, including making major headway on essential design work, tripling the number of structures under construction, and nearly doubling the miles of guide work open for work. Given this progress and what it means for our members and apprentices who are contributing to this project, we’d like to thank the Board for their hard work and would appreciate your support of the Business Plan. If I may, Mister Chair, really quick, too, on issue two, I would also like to align our comments with Mr. Watts and Transportation California in support. Thank you very much.
02-22-2022February 22 – Assembly HearingMikeWestGood morning, Mister Chair and members. Mike West on behalf of the nearly half million members of the State Building and Construction Trades Council in support of the Draft 2022 Business Plan for the high-speed rail and the continued funding of the project. The thousands of middle-class jobs created and the economic development, as stated by the Chair’s comments regarding economic development, like the Boston project. And let’s not forget the criticism of BART and the fantasy train to nowhere, now it carries 432,000 trips on weekdays and 126 million trips annually. This high-speed rail project, once completed, is our legacy infrastructure project that will be for our children and grandchildren to enjoy for decades to come. Thank you.
02-22-2022February 22 – Assembly HearingJoeCruzGood morning, Chairman Bloom, committee members. Joe Cruz on behalf of the California State Council of Laborers and on behalf of our 70,000 hard-working men and women in California, I want to express our strong support for the 2022 high-speed rail plan as well as the Governor’s transportation infrastructure program. We also appreciate the work the Authority staff has done to improve project delivery of the largest transportation infrastructure project in our state’s history. California has the chance to lead the world once again through innovation and infrastructure, connecting our communities, creating good jobs, addressing climate change and ensuring equity. High-speed rail brings exactly that, but not just to the Central Valley, but at some point, across the state. Despite the pandemic, high-speed rail continues at an incredible pace. The project has created 5,200 good-paying jobs with an average of 1,100 workers a day at dozens of construction sites in the Central Valley. Construction jobs have doubled since 2018. It is vital the remaining bond appropriation from the original Prop 1A be approved by the Legislature and continue the success and the construction of projects currently underway in the Central Valley. I thank you for your time and your consideration of this issue.
02-22-2022February 22 – Assembly HearingAndyKunzHi, my name is Andy Kunz. I’m President and CEO of the U.S. High-Speed Rail Association and convener of the U.S. High-Speed Rail Coalition, which is chaired by a bipartisan group of three former Secretaries of Transportation, including Ray LaHood, Norm Mineta and Anthony Foxx. On behalf of the coalition and the association and its members, we support the rapid completion of the California high-speed rail project and urge you to move the project forward by releasing the state funds in the Governor’s budget, setting the state up to receive substantial federal funding to advance this important project. And this includes the full system with double-track, fully electrified, the same as every high-speed rail system around the world. The California high-speed rail project will move America into the 21st Century and you are leading the way. You all deserve a lot of credit as a state for taking this big and difficult leap. It’s never easy being the first at something big and important like this, but it will pay off many times over and all you have to do is look at the twenty plus nations around the world that have high-speed rail and have all benefitted in all the ways we talk about. Jobs, new fast mobility, affordable housing access, equity, economic development, increased tourism, transit-oriented development, and more. We urge you to carry the project forward and let’s deliver all these benefits to Californians and the rest of America. Thank you for your time today.
02-22-2022February 22 – Assembly HearingAlexWalkerGood afternoon, Mister Chair and members. Alex Walker with San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit, government and community relations department. BART, we want to reiterate for Item 1 our support for the 4.2 billion from Prop 1A for the Central Valley high-speed rail and we also want to reiterate our support for the letter dated February 16th that came from our Bay Area transit systems for 10 billion dollars from General Fund and for 5 billion for public transit, 2 billion for active transportation, and a billion for climate resilience. We believe that connecting these projects are essential to our recovery in the Bay Area and the Bay Area as we recover more slowly in some ways of our ridership, we want to make sure that there is regional equity as we are distributing these funds. We support 75-25 formula versus competitive mix for those funds as was laid out in that letter, and we look forward to engaging with you on other issues such as operating funding while staying within the appropriations limit, homelessness and other issues on our docket as well. But we thank you for your work.
02-22-2022February 22 – Assembly HearingJillianConnettiHi, my name is Jillian Connetti. I work for BCI, one of the 634 small businesses operating within the high-speed rail. As a DBE working on CP 2-3, I can personally attest to the progress on the project and want to support and advocate for the acceptance of the 2022 Business Plan. And as a Central Valley resident, born and raised, I’d also like to say that the Central Valley deserves electrified tracks and would like to support the Prop 1A funds be allocated to the Central Valley high-speed rail as well. Thank you.
02-17-2022February 22 – Assembly HearingJonathonKassGood afternoon, I’m Jonathon Kass speaking on behalf of SPUR in the San Francisco Bay Area. SPUR supports the electrified high-speed rail plan and the release of Prop 1A funds and we encourage the Authority and Legislature to double-down on supporting strong growth near high-speed rail stations. On item two, we encourage greater flexibility to transit operators to use general fund dollars to support transit service and for the implementation of our region’s Consensus Transit Transformation Action Plan. And finally, we agree with Assemblymember comments to deliver capital projects more quickly and cost effectively. SPUR is advocating for a specific budget appropriation to help study why projects tend to cost so much and to pilot improved project delivery techniques in the Bay Area. We hope you’ll support this effort to inform better transit project delivery. This new infrastructure funding will be transformative only if we can meet project timelines and budgets. Thank you.
02-17-2022February 2022 Board MeetingMatthewSerrattoRight. Good morning, everybody. Matthew Serratto, M-A-T-T-H-E-W S-E-R-R-A-T-T-O, Mayor, City of Merced. I'm just here again to wish everybody a good morning and remind you that the City of Merced stands in support of this project. We’re a willing partner, have been, and we’re committed to a real constructive process and a great partnership, and a project that benefits the entire state. So when it comes to so many goals, such as vehicle mile traveled reduction, climate change, or valley-to-valley connection, Yosemite travel, all kinds of things, I mean, this is an infrastructure project that could really benefit and provide a backbone for growth for generations for not just Merced and the Central Valley but the entire 99 Corridor, one of the fastest growing regions it the state. So, I just wanted to lend our support and reiterate our partnership. And I'm excited to help partner with you guys on this. Thank you.
02-17-2022February 2022 Board MeetingLee AnnEagerYes. Thank you, Chair Richards. I'm looking forward to working closely with you in that role. Today, I'm calling in as President and CEO of the Fresno County EDC. But it’s hard to take off your hats and switch from one to the other, so this will be all-inclusive. I'm calling in to support the draft Business Plan. I really want to thank you all for your transparency. In this day and age, being transparent is always difficult. And this Business Plan certainly does that. It tells us where we need to go. It tells us how to get there. And it tells us the ups and downs of how we got here. So, I just want to let you know how much I really appreciate that. I think most of you on this dais know that I have been a supporter of this project for over a decade and my support of the project has never waned. And that's because I have always seen what this can do for the Central Valley of California, particularly, but for the state of California. As I travel around the world and I see what transportation projects have done for the areas that they're in, I know this is something that’s really needed. And I hope you’ll let me, at this time, give a really special thank you to Director Schenk. You have been there for the ups, the downs, the ins, the outs, and you have never fallen back and said, oh, this is too tough for me. You have continued to fight the good fight for as long as I can remember, so thank you so much. And we’ll continue to fight this fight together. Thank you.
02-17-2022February 2022 Board MeetingPaulKatchadourianGood morning. Thank you so much for the time. I'd like to address my support for the draft. And I would like to also speak on behalf of small business and disabled veteran-owned businesses. I'm both. This project has allowed us to grow from -- since 2014, when we first got on it, from six employees as a small local restoration company to -- we’re still a small business but we have 40 employees now. And in our expansion, 85 percent of our employees that we have added have all come from the NEO (phonetic) program or from EDC programs, Second Chance where we’ve gotten people who are on public assistance, given them good jobs in the union, and it’s worked out really good for us. It’s worked out really good for these people with these opportunities. Some of them who were on public assistance prior are now homeowners and very successful and they're just doing a great job for me. And as this program funding expands and allows us to hire more, we’re going to continue with reaching out to people who need jobs in these capacities and give more opportunities to people who need help. Not only that, this program has also allowed us to expand to the point where we’re increasing our bonding level to where we can -- it’s like a seed job, where we’re able to -- now we’re building police stations and fire stations, and part of schools in Fresno, health clinics. Our company would have never had those opportunities without the high-speed rail. [fifteen second remaining] I support the high-speed rail. It’s been a wonderful addition, California needs it, and it’s just the whole program has just worked out great for this small disabled veteran-owned business. Thank you so much.
02-17-2022February 2022 Board MeetingJonathanPowellHi. Yes. I'm Jonathan, J-O-N-A-T-H-A-N, Powell, P-O-W-E-L-L. I want to voice my support for high-speed rail. And I want to appreciate the work the Authority is doing by paving the way and brining high-speed trains to California as soon as possible. With the Olympics currently going on in China, and thinking ahead to the L.A. Summer Olympics in 2028, has or could the Authority ask for state or federal funding to advance and build Burbank to Palmdale section by 2028, if that is a possible timeline for the Authority? Or has the Authority explored any other ideas to get support through Olympic preparations? Thank you and keep up the great work.
02-17-2022February 2022 Board MeetingJesusVargasGood morning, Directors. I'm wishing you Happy Valentine’s Day. I truly appreciate Director Miller’s comments mentioned earlier and her commitment to collaborate with us and attend Business Advisory Council meetings. That's outstanding. I'm excited to see the three RFQs that are ready to be released, as well as (indiscernible) of the Draft Business Plan. I do want to point to keeping in mind Laura Uden’s comments, the Business Advisory Council’s comments, which I will not repeat, and some of the small business comments that we heard here today while we’re looking to refine these documents. The Business Advisory comments are intended to promote the support for all high-speed rail programs as they get launched across the country and expand competition and offer improved participation for California businesses working on the California high-speed rail. I love trains. I love high-speed rail. I have invested, done research of other active high-speed rail systems abroad to benefit my technical knowledge and that of the Authority’s, as well. Please partner, look to partner, explore to partner with FTA or FHWA or FAA to develop and oversight program. They have operating facilities, not like the high-speed rail here now. They have PMO programs we could learn from that can keep us on track, all puns intended. Keep in mind that our businesses are being seduced by many other public agencies that are flush with funds right now and have better small business practices. Use them as benchmarks. [fifteen second remaining] Use them as benchmarks to make California high-speed rail better. Thank you.
03-02-2022EmailRobert M.PowersView letter
03-12-2022WebsiteLucasNguyenI am a Californian who is writing in support of the high speed rail plan. I used to live in the bay area but moved down to San Diego for work, as such, I find myself travelling back to the bay to see my friends. I believe this type of infrastructure would benefit California by connecting our two regions together. Other modes of transportation is inadequate because airline prices are highly subject to price fluctuations such that it is difficult to book a flight close to the travel date or during holidays. In addition, the driving experience can be extremely variable depending on traffic. One time during my drive, the Grapevine/Tejon pass was closed due to snow and all of the alternative routes are just terrible. We need infrastructure projects like this to enable people greater access between our two regions as well as tackle the climate change goals and reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with more efficient public transit.
03-12-2022WebsiteMaxHenstellPlease make this happen.
03-12-2022WebsiteAlyenaaBucklesWe need to rebuild critical transportation infrastructure that was destroyed and paved over after the Second World War. Car dominance has crippled our ability to to move people efficiently and safely between cities. We had a world class rail network. Now we have Walmarts with a parking lots dotting the landscape. Please for the love of all that is good and holy. Finish the damned high speed rail network ASAP! Use eminent domain if you have to! You use it for freeway construction all the time. Now use it for public transportation options like Light Rail. Also stop blaming pedestrians for the actions of the psychopathic car brains. Car dominance must end!!!
03-13-2022WebsiteJamieLeeI support this high speed rail. It will make getting around easier. Public transportation is an investment that all of us benefit from.
03-15-2022WebsiteStephaniePiccioniI have the luck of having family in Europe. High speed rail has connected nations and cities in a way that the United States can't fathom. This will be incredible for the economy.
03-15-2022WebsiteLesleyMilesI have been on the working group for the past 8+ years and am a business owner and property owner In downtown Morgan Hill as well as an architect in private practice. The accepted alternative 4 creates a clear hazard by not providing for any grade separations except for one at the north end of town. Morgan Hill s a city of 47,000 people that uses the cross traffic over the tracks continually as the main access for work, shopping and most importantly emergency vehicles. The decision to have multiple trains running right through the most congested area of the community with no alternatives at 110 miles per hour is completely inappropriate. The lack of the EIR to properly address this as well as include all traffic on the UP lines shows a lack of vigor. This sections should not be certified.
03-08-2022March 8 2022 – Senate HearingAndresRamirezHello Madam Chair and members. Andres Ramirez on behalf of the Transbay Joint Powers Authority calling in to express support for the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s Draft 2022 Business Plan. The TJPA owns and operates the Salesforce Transit Center which is slated to be the northern terminus for high-speed rail in San Francisco while also serving as a transit hub serving multiple operators with regional and statewide benefits. We simply encourage the legislature to strongly consider the full allocation of remaining Prop 1A funds for high-speed rail and to approve the full funding amounts for the entire 2022/2023 transportation package as proposed in the Governor’s January budget proposal. Thank you.
03-08-2022March 8 2022 – Senate HearingKeithDunnThank you Madam Chair and members this is Keith Dunn on behalf of the District Council of Ironworkers of the State of California as well as the Association of California High-Speed Trains. I’d just also like to also ask for your support for the high-speed rail business plan. I think today we learned more about what great partners we have at the local level and the generational opportunity to leverage these funds with the federal government who is more than ever a partner for us here in California and this project specifically. I also would be remiss if I didn’t point out the fact that the Cap and Trade program instead of, as was suggested by LAO as having a revisit every year, it’s my recommendation that we extend that program so there’s actually a source of funding that we can go out, show our partners and the federal government that there’s a commitment to this program here in California, but also a revenue stream that we can use to leverage for additional funding. So with that I’d just ask for your continued support of the business plan and for our partners who are building the system with the state. And thank you very much for your time.
03-08-2022March 8 2022 – Senate HearingMarleeSmithHi Madam Chair. This is Marlee Smith, Director of Transportation Policy for the Silicon Valley Leadership Group which represents over 350 tech and innovation economy employers in the Bay Area. And it’s in support of the budget request from the Governor’s Office and the Draft 2022 Business Plan. High-speed rail is essential to the development of the local and state economy and connects Central Valley residents to well-paying jobs in the Silicon Valley which greatly expands economic opportunity across the state while radically reducing commutes and transportation costs for workers. Thank you.
03-08-2022March 8 2022 – Senate HearingMattCreminsThank you Madam Chair and members of both committees. Matt Cremins here on behalf of the California-Nevada Conference of Operating Engineers. Here today in strong support of the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s Draft 2022 Business Plan. Given the intense scrutiny that this project has faced it’s important to also mention the progress that has been made over the last three years including finalizing design work and rapidly increasing the structures that are under construction. It’s also important from our organization’s perspective to note that this progress has led to over 7,000 jobs being created, many of whom belong to our members and we are already seeing the life-changing impacts that these jobs are establishing, as we have members who started out on the project as apprentices and are now still working on the project as journeyman operators with a lifelong career ahead of them. Given this progress and what it means for our members and the apprentices, we would sincerely encourage your support of the 2022 Business Plan as well as your support in allocating the full 4.2 billion in bond funds remaining. Thank you very much.
03-08-2022March 8 2022 – Senate HearingAndyKunzHi my name is Andy Kunz, President and CEO of the U.S. High-Speed Rail Association and convener of the U.S. High-Speed Rail Coalition. On behalf of the coalition and association members we support the rapid completion of the California high-speed rail project and urge you to move the project forward by releasing the state funds in the Governor’s budget, setting the state up to receive substantial federal funding to advance this important project. And this includes the full system with double track and fully electrified. And as a point of reference, every high-speed rail system in the world is fully electrified. It’s physically impossible to run 220 mile an hour trains on anything but overhead catenary wire electrification. High-speed rail is a proven technology all over the world for more than 50 years and brings sweeping changes across entire regions, as happened in every nation that has built these and invested in them. 20 nations can get this done, we can certainly get it done here in America. High-speed rail delivers very high capacity new mobility to get people and goods moving and it will reduce carbon, congestion, costs, accidents and energy consumption statewide all at the same time. It will create new access to miles of affordable communities. It will stimulate our economy in multiple ways by creating booms in real estate, construction, manufacturing and tourism simultaneously. And this major stimulus will reverberate throughout the state and nation and will go on for many decades benefiting all. So we urge you to release the state funds and complete the Central Valley with double track, fully electrified world class high-speed rail as quickly as possible. Additional federal funds, this is our big opportunity to really advance this project and get trains running so Californians and the rest of America can come and ride. Thank you for your leadership on this important project.
03-08-2022March 8 2022 – Senate HearingJohnGreenHi, my name is John Green, and I would like to comment today in support of the proposed 4.2 billion dollars for high-speed rail in the proposed infrastructure package. I’m a faculty member of the Lyles College of Engineering at California State University, Fresno after working previously more than 20 years in the railway industry. I’m also a member of the high-speed rail committee of American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association and the vice-chairperson of its education and training committee. At Fresno State, we are excited about the opportunities of the high-speed rail service will bring to our students. We are educating our students for technical careers in the rail industry. We already offer two different courses in railway engineering and dozens of students have successfully completed those courses. Our graduates are making great contributions to the high-speed rail project. Our alumnus, Diana Gomez, is a shining example and previously served as the Central Valley Regional Director of the project before becoming the Caltrans District 6 Director. High-speed rail is an engine for economic growth. In Spain, Germany and China, cities similar to Fresno, Bakersfield and Merced have seen great economic growth in a short period of time with high-speed rail. It is critical that the initial segment connecting Fresno with Merced and Bakersfield be completed as planned so that it becomes the backbone linking Silicon Valley to Southern California. The design and construction of a technologically advanced rail industry in the Central Valley is already providing inspiring educational and research opportunities for college students in the Central Valley, such as the class field trips that Fresno State students have taken to the California high-speed rail construction sites. The project is also already assisting students economically as well, through internships for engineering students and full-time technically advanced jobs for college graduates. When the system is in operation, it will also provide opportunities for research and innovation. (Cross-talk, committee chair urges commentor to conclude) Sure, thank you. High-speed rail is important for California and may be the most transformative infrastructure project of our lifetime. I urge you to support the 2022 California High-Speed Rail Draft Business Plan. Thank you.
03-08-2022March 8 2022 – Senate HearingPaulKatchadourianThank you very much Madam Chair and other committee members. My name is Paul Katchadourian, I’m the owner of Katch Environmental in Fresno and I wanted to speak on behalf of small businesses. I’d like to express the gratitude for this opportunity for my company and the community. This has been a big change for Fresno. I was born in Fresno, and I’ve seen a lot of extreme positive growth from the high-speed rail, coming, you know, starting here. This project has changed my life and the lives of my employees. We went from six employees to over 40 currently. 85% of my new hires in the labor force were on public assistance. We pulled them from them, from there and given them good union jobs with benefits and long-term security. Some of them are now homeowners and they’re doing very well for themselves. So, this project is lifting people up in an extremely positive way and it’s also allowed my company to grow to where were actually able to bid on other projects. We’re still in the high-speed rail and we’re still currently on it. We’re able to, it’s seeds, it’s like a seeds project, where we’re building police stations and fire stations, and other things like that. It’s just the momentum that it has given my company, our employees and this community cannot be overstated. And I just wanted to tell you, on behalf of small business and disabled veterans, we’re grateful in Fresno. Thank you.
03-08-2022March 8 2022 – Senate HearingDavidCameronGreat, thank you very much. This is David Cameron with the Teamsters Rail Conference and on behalf of the Teamsters and our 1.4 million members, we strongly support the business plan and the 4.2 billion that’s in the Governor’s budget. I don’t think I need to add more to what so many speakers before me have so eloquently said. I do believe that we need to be cognizant that the federal government, which just passed that historic infrastructure bill with 66 billion for rail, 12 billion of it is eligible for high-speed rail, is watching these hearings very closely to determine what kind of grants they’re going to give. And I believe the state needs to present its full backing of the project so that the federal government will see it’s behind it and follow suit. Thank you very much.
03-08-2022March 8 2022 – Senate HearingKimLewisYeah, good morning. Kim Lewis representing CENIC, the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California, in support of the high-speed rail’s continued business plan and funding and are pleased with the reinvigoration by Director Kelly of our MOU for the potential to expand the availability and accessibility of high-speed broadband along the rail path. Thank you.
03-08-2022March 8 2022 – Senate HearingWillOliverGood morning, Madam Chair, my name is Will Oliver with the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation. On behalf of business and industry, the Fresno EDC is in support of California high-speed rail’s Draft 2022 Business Plan. It’s important to reaffirm the reasons why this work is so vitally important for our Central Valley communities and our downtowns, too. To Senator Cortese and Archuleta’s questions raised about economic impacts in decisions to start in the center of our region, it centers around equity. The Obama Administration and congressional delegation were wise to allocate federal funds aimed towards the Central Valley first, an area that has far too long struggled with high unemployment rates, persistent poor air quality and unabated poverty. Our poverty rate exceeds that of the Appalachias. High-speed rail has already advanced economic development, putting thousands of people to work, aligned hundreds of local small businesses with contracting opportunity, and, prior to the pandemic, allowed Fresno and the Central Valley to reach record unemployment levels. The 2022 Draft Business Plan will continue these investments, particularly in the 171-mile Merced-Fresno-Bakersfield interim operating segment. With electrified, double-track operation connecting Merced, Fresno and Bakersfield, the interim segment will provide much faster, more frequent and more reliable passenger rail service than is currently available in this corridor while improving our air quality by shifting from diesel to clean, electrically-powered trains. The interim segment will allow for early testing of high-speed rail operations to prepare for passenger rail above 200 miles per hour, therefore, the success of this early interim service is essential towards implementing the ultimate high-speed rail system between the Bay Area, Central Valley and Southern California. High-speed rail, the City of Fresno, and private investors have already committed hundreds of millions of dollars in planned investment and projects around the Fresno station, much of which hinges on a fully functional station and trains operating throughout the state. It’s time to build off the backbone that is currently being created, environmentally clear the full 500-mile system from San Francisco to LA and advance design statewide. It is time to finish what we started. We ask for you to release state funds and continue supporting the high-speed rail’s Draft 2022 Plan.
03-08-2022March 8 2022 – Senate HearingJimLightsGood morning, Madame Chairs, Jim Lights on behalf of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District. BART is in strong support of the Draft 2022 Business Plan from the Authority as well as the 4.2 billion dollar proposed continued investment into the program. Thank you very much.
03-08-2022March 8 2022 – Senate HearingChuckRiojasYeah, good morning. Thank you, Madame Chair. Chuck Riojas, I am the elected head of the Fresno-Madera-Tulare-Kings Building Trades Council, and we strongly encourage acceptance or passing the Draft 2022 High-Speed Rail Business Plan and release the 4.2 billion. We have been the point of the spear in this effort in the Central Valley. I know firsthand the boots on the ground, the number of people that it has put to work. The number of people that it has maintained to work through the pandemic. Thank you to the Governor in the decision to make sure we’re essential workers. Let us continue to work, let us finish the job. We stand ready as the building trades to produce those future construction workers through apprenticeship. It really couldn’t happen without a major infrastructure project such as high-speed rail. It has been a game-changer on the Valley floor. Thank you very much.
03-31-2022WebsiteJarrodBaniquedI am pleased to have gone through this plan and read of the considerable progress made in land acquisition and environmental approvals, and the thorough accounting of revenues. However, I am deeply disappointed with the continued lack of cost controls for this project, which has been forecasted to cost $72-105 billion. I think it best to reinstate the 2027 deadline of the early 2010s for the IOS and the initial global budget cap of $40 billion for the whole project (with a 2033 date for Phase 2 completion). I also see the urgency of importing added HSR expertise from Japan (who have perfected rolling stock, maintenance and turnaround), China (standardization), Germany (takt timetabling and connectivity with slower transit), and especially France and Spain, who have perfected cost control for construction. As for legislative actions, I have little hope for the Build Back Better Act addressing the flawed transit status quo the IIJA that President Biden signed in November perpetuates. In case the Governor’s budget faces significant edits through May, I do have three bold requests for the state legislature that the Authority could take up: first, to apply for TIRCP funds under SB1, second, to ask for a higher price floor in the cap and trade market, and third, to ask for legal authorization to begin seeking private funding, one possible model being 2010s LGV-style public-private partnerships for construction. Finally, I am glad that Central Valley jobs are being created, as a denizen of the capital’s area. However, there needs to be more construction in the north and in urban areas. Phase 2 cannot wait. The project as a whole needs to preserve its long-term political viability, and most of the legislators and existing jobs are in urban areas, so when the IOS nears completion, more construction should happen there than in rural areas. CalMod represents a promising start; a full endorsement of electrifying, resignalling, and reshaping the LOSSAN Corridor, and Metrolink’s Antelope Valley and San Bernardino Lines, and of the ACE and Capitol Corridor Visions, in addition to running tilting super-express trains on them to serve the highest-ridership stations, would be the best way to signal to more people how serious the state is. The Authority should request more improvements there. Thanks for listening.
03-17-2022March 2022 Board MeetingFrankQuinteroGood morning, Chairman Richards. Thank you. And thank you Authority members. My name is Frank Quintero, F-r-a-n-k Q-u-i-n-t-e-r-o. I'm with the City of Merced and I serve at as its Deputy City Manager. First of all, I've had the pleasure of working and being the Project Manager for High-Speed Rail in Merced since 2000. And concerning the 2022 Draft Business Plan, CEO Kelly said it best, we have in Merced a proposal to merge three rail providers at one multi-modal station, which will blend in local providers as well as urban providers to one location. Within the Plan, page 17 clearly states out the benefits for the San Joaquin Valley as a whole. And for the Central Valley, it is a clear win on why high-speed rail needs to proceed and the Business Plan continues to support that. With that, Honorable Chairman and Authority Members, thank you very much for this opportunity to comment.
03-17-2022March 2022 Board MeetingConsueloHernandezThank you. My name, again, Consuelo Hernandez, C-o-n-s-u-e-l-o H-e-r-n-a-n-d-e-z representing the City of Sacramento. I'm here today to express our support of the 2022 Draft Business Plan, which advances the Governor's proposal and staff recommendations to pursue a Merced-Fresno-Bakersfield HSR interim-operating segment with additional stops at Kings-Tulare and Madera. The Merced-Fresno-Bakersfield interim-operating segment will improve access and connectivity to the city of Sacramento through connections with the ACE and San Joaquin services at multi-modal hub station in downtown Merced. The City of Sacramento also supports the Governor's budget proposal for the remaining $4.2 billion in Prop 1A HSR bond funds needed to complete high-speed rail construction in the Central Valley. Thank you.
03-17-2022March 2022 Board MeetingMichaelRossonGood morning, Chair and Board. My name is Michael Rosson, M-i-c-h-a-e-l R-o-s-s-o-n. And I'm with the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. And on behalf of SACOG, I am pleased to express our support for the Draft 2022 Business Plan that moves forward the Governor's proposal and the staff recommendation to pursue the Merced-Fresno-Bakersfield high-speed rail interim-operating segment. The improved passenger rail is an essential component of achieving SACOG’s and the State's goals to reduce reliance on single-occupancy vehicles, improve mobility choices, and reduce harmful air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. This critical investment will benefit communities throughout the Northern California megaregion and Central Valley. The ACE and San Joaquins projects will enhance connections for residents and the visitors traveling between Sacramento, the Bay Area and the fast-growing San Joaquin Valley. SACOG is also supporting our San Joaquin Valley partners to secure additional funding for its expanding ACE and the San Joaquins services between the Sacramento region and Merced. SACOG also supports the Governor's budget proposal for the remaining $4.2 billion in Prop 1A bond funds that is needed to complete these high-speed rail construction projects in the Central Valley. Thank you.
03-17-2022March 2022 Board MeetingWillOliverGood morning. I'm with the Fresno Economic Development Corporation. And on behalf of our Board of Directors and Members, we are in support of the 2022 Draft Business Plan as it reaffirms the reasons why this work is so important for many Central Valley communities. As you know, the Central Valley has struggled with above-average unemployment, persistent poor air quality, and unabated poverty that surpasses the Appalachians. High-speed rail development in the Central Valley has already put thousands of people to work, allowing hundreds of small businesses opportunities with contracting, and prior to the pandemic allowed Fresno and the Valley to reach record unemployment levels. The 2022 Business Plan calls for 171 miles of electrified double-track operation connecting Merced, Fresno, and Bakersfield, which will provide much faster, more frequent, and more reliable passenger rail service than is currently available. The success of this early interim service is essential towards implementing the ultimate high-speed rail system between the Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley and Southern California. In addition, our civic leaders and institutions have made great investment to position the Central Valley as a home of (indiscernible) this city has committed hundreds of millions of dollars in planned investment and projects around the Fresno station, much of which hinges on a fully functional station and trains operating throughout the state. It's time to build off the backbone here in the Valley and finish what we started, advance designs statewide, and environmentally clear at the full 500-mile system from San Francisco to L.A. With that, we're in full support of the Draft 2022 Business Plan. Thank you.
03-17-2022March 2022 Board MeetingDanLeavittHi, Chair Richards, Members of the Board. Dan Levitt representing the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, which is the management agency for the San Joaquin intercity rail service and the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, which is the owner-operator of the ACE commuter rail service. I'm speaking in support of the Draft 2022 High-Speed Rail Business Plan that moves forward the Governor's proposal and High-Speed Authority staff recommendations to pursue Merced-Fresno- Bakersfield high-speed rail interim-operating segment, providing electrified high-speed rail service to Californians at the earliest time possible. The Merced-Bakersfield high-speed rail interim operating segment with stops at Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings-Tulare, and Bakersfield will improve access and connectivity to other destinations throughout California through better connections with both ACE and San Joaquins services in the North and San Joaquins Thruway bus services at Bakersfield for travel to Southern California. Our San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority 2022 Draft Business Plan, and the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission’s 2021 Work Program, highlight the coordination that we've been doing with the High-Speed Rail Authority and your Early Train Operator to ensure the success of the high-speed rail interim service. Our integrative services plan includes extending ACE to Merced and truncating the San Joaquins at Merced, so that both of our services meet with high-speed rail at a multi-modal hub station in downtown Merced. We strongly support the Governor's budget proposal to provide the remaining $4.2 billion in Prop 1A funding to the Authority needed to implement interim service. It's time to deliver true, electrified high-speed rail operations to California as promised to the voters. And thank you for your time today.
03-17-2022March 2022 Board MeetingWillRidderGood morning. My name is Will Ridder, and on behalf of the Tri-Valley San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority I thank you for the opportunity to provide comment today on the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s Draft 2022 Business Plan. The Tri-Valley San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority is responsible for the implementation of the Valley Link Rail Project. It will provide a new 42-mile, 7-station rail connection between the Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station in Alameda County and the North Lathrop-Altamont Corridor Express Station in San Joaquin County with all-day service on BART frequencies during peak periods. Valley Link will provide critical statewide rail connectivity closing a key gap between BART and the state rail system in the Central Valley, linking nearly 500 miles of commuter and intercity rail with more than 130 stations throughout the Northern California megaregion. Consistent with the State Rail Plan and the California High-Speed Rail Authority Draft Business Plan, Valley Link will expand equitable access by providing the Bay Area and communities in San Joaquin County with integrated connectivity to the Merced-Bakersfield high-speed rail interim operating segment and Sacramento through the existing Altamont Commuter Express and future Valley Rail passenger rail services. We support the Merced-Bakersfield high-speed rail interim operating segment. We also support the Governor’s Fiscal Year 22-23 budget proposal to utilize the remaining $4.2 billion in Prop 1A high-speed rail bond funds for high-speed rail. We look forward to working with your staff to include the identification of the Valley Link Rail Project in the Draft 2022 Business Plan and will be following up with a letter on these details as part of the formal comment process. Thank you.
03-17-2022March 2022 Board MeetingDylanStoneThank you. I'm Dylan Stone with the Madera County Transportation Commission. We are in strong support of the Authority’s Draft 2022 Business Plan to implement the Fresno-Madera-Merced-Bakersfield interim service. That includes stops in Kings-Tulare and here in Madera. As the Madera County Transportation Commission, we are the metropolitan planning organization responsible for preparing our region’s long-range transportation plans and we think this project is a very important aspect of our long-range plan and long-range vision for the Madera region and the San Joaquin Valley. A key goal we have here is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and we believe we do that by shifting more travelers onto other modes and commuter rail is one of the key modes that we do want to see travelers from our region shipped onto. What the Business Plan outlines is a much faster and more frequent and more reliable passenger rail service than what's currently available to travelers in our region. It more than doubles the available service frequency and it does so as soon as possible, and that's a really important aspect of what’s in this plan, and all of this on clean electrically powered trains. We support the Authority’s Draft 2022 Business Plan as well as the Governor's budget proposal for $4.2 billion in remaining Proposition 1A high-speed rail bond funds, and that they are directed to complete the delivery of this important work here in the Central Valley. Thank you, Chairman Richards, and members of the Board.
03-17-2022March 2022 Board MeetingEdithRoblesGood morning, Chair Richards and members of the Board. My name is Edith Robles, E-d-i-t-h R-o-b-l-e-s and I'm with the Stanislaus Council of Governments. So, on behalf of StanCOG, I'd like to express our support for the draft of California High-Speed Rail Authority's 2022 Business Plan. This plan does advance the Governor's proposal and the High-Speed Rail’s plan to pursue the Merced-Fresno-Bakersfield high-speed rail interim operating segment, with the additional stops at Kings-Tulare and Madera. The San Joaquin Valley and more specifically Stanislaus County, does have a unique geographical layout as many areas in our region are isolated from the more urbanized areas and this does limit our access to both local and regional sources, resources and services. The Merced-Fresno-Bakersfield interim operating segment will help improve access and connectivity to the Stanislaus County through the connections with the Altamont Corridor Express for ACE services and the San Joaquins Amtrak services at the multi-modal stations in downtown Merced. StanCOG also supports the Governor's budget proposal for the remaining $4.2 billion in Proposition 1A high-speed rail bond funds needed to complete and electrify high-speed rail’s interim service between Merced and Bakersfield. Thank you for your time.
03-17-2022March 2022 Board MeetingLauraUdenGood morning, Board members, and thank you for letting me speak again. I'm speaking to you now as the High-Speed Rail Business Advisory Council Professional Services Committee Chair. I have yet to finish reading the Plan in detail, but I wanted to draw your attention to what I consider a significant gap. The 2022 Business Plan is supposed to be an update according to the purpose of the plan, an update on what occurred over the last ten months affecting our program, progress and opportunities, and management’s recommendations to the Board on how to address those. My comment is that it doesn't really discuss small business impacts at all. The 2020 Business Plan at least mentioned achievements and goals sprinkled throughout the Plan. Small businesses are required to complete this critical program. With this and future high-speed rail business plans, they should at least summarize the important small business, disadvantaged and disabled veteran business goals, the achievements to date, gaps and the key issues impacting small businesses such as utilization, timely payments and small business support, and plans to improve those areas. It should also take credit for the achievements to date and discuss the significant impact of this critical program on small businesses throughout the state. We're doing a lot of good out there and we're not really calling it out here. And I think this is an important place to do it, because this is all some people are going to read about the program. I'm going to provide these comments as well through the official comment process, but I just wanted to say please include a discussion on small businesses, achievements and gaps, and your approach to addressing those gaps as part of your plan, going forward. Thank you.
03-17-2022March 2022 Board MeetingMarleeSmithThank you, Chairman Richards and Members of the Board. This is Marlee Smith, M-a-r-l-e-e S-m-i-t-h. I’m the Director of Transportation Policy for the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, which represents over 350 tech and innovation economy employers in the Bay Area and is in support of the Draft 2022 Business Plan. High-speed rail is essential for development of the local economy and the state economy and connects Central Valley residents to well-paying jobs in the Silicon Valley, which greatly expands economic opportunity across the state while radically reducing commutes and transportation costs for workers. Thank you.
03-17-2022March 2022 Board MeetingSteveRobertsGood morning, Chair Richards, and members of the Board. My name is Steve Roberts. I'm President of the Rail Passenger Association of California, an all-volunteer statewide organization of advocates for public improved rail, intercity rail, and commuter rail. Our membership endorses the 2022 California High-Speed Rail Business Plan and urges the Board to adopt the Plan. And we also are strong supporters of the Legislature appropriating the Prop 1A funding to complete this project. Our members ride this rail service, and we will be riding it in the future. And we looked anxiously to keep this program underway and moving forward for the benefit of Californians, and specifically the citizens who live in the San Joaquin Valley. Thank you.
03-17-2022March 2022 Board MeetingArnaldoRodriguezYes, thank you very much, Chair Richards. I apologize for that. I haven't figured out how to operate Zoom. And thank you very much. To Members of the Board, my name is Arnoldo Rodriguez, A-r-n-o-l-d-o, Rodriguez R-o-d-r-i-g-u-e-z. I serve as the City Manager for the City of Madera. First and foremost, thank you very much for your service to our state and our community. The City of Madera is in support of the Draft 2022 Business Plan to implement the Merced-Fresno-Bakersfield interim service that includes stations at the various locations, specifically in the city of Madera. We believe that this is of the utmost importance, especially in the San Joaquin Valley knowing that in the Central Valley is served or is a key trade corridor for a lot of the produce, and that's tributed worldwide. We collectively understand, and I think it is rightly acknowledged, that we cannot build additional highways to serve the needs of the community. And collectively we are going to have to begin to identify alternative modes of transportation, specifically rail. And kind of with that being said, the City of Madera along with the County are really excited to be constructing a new Amtrak station, hopefully a high-speed rail station right outside of the city boundaries that we believe can serve as a model in not only for high-speed rail, but also the nation for new TOD development. It's adjacent to the state’s kind of newest community college and we feel that we have the proper players in place, we have willing partners to build a (fifteen seconds remaining) living environment. And with that thank very much, Chair Richards, we really appreciate it.
03-17-2022March 2022 Board MeetingDavidSchwegelThis is David D-a-v-i-d Schwegel S-c-h-w-e-g-e-l. You know the drill spelled like sweet gel, rhymes with bagel, with Phelps P-h-e-l-p-s Engineering Services. Just like Michael Phelps. Talkspace: Therapy for All. If I am successful at renewing my Washington civil license, and I do plan to call the Board later on today to see if I can renew it, given the constraints that I am facing, I would definitely want to work on Cascadia high-speed rail. Now I’m noticing in the Business Plan that you have a slide that talks about the cost of high-speed rail versus the cost of expanding aviation and roadway to have the same carrying capacity. I would highly recommend getting in touch with Roger R-o-g-e-r Millar M-i-l-l-a-r. He is the Washington State Secretary for Transportation. And what he did is he asked his staff at WASHDOT to calculate the cost of adding one northbound and one southbound freeway lane through the state of Washington. They came up with a cost of $108 billion. Now compare that, and keep in mind this only going to fill up with traffic once it opens, for Cascadia high-speed rail. We're talking a $24 to $42 billion system that will have a comparable carrying capacity of 12 lanes. (fifteen seconds remaining) Plus airports at either end plus $355 billion in economic returns. We need to use those sorts of arguments in the Business Plan to really sell it to the feds and state alike. Thank you.
03-17-2022March 2022 Board MeetingBlairBeekmanHi, thank you. Blair Beekman here to speak on my second item of today, and to further speak about. It was nice to hear someone at our earlier public comment time from Sacramento speak on high-speed rail items. And I'm interested as I've said in that process. I think it provides, to always be considering and thinking about and talking about the LA to Sacramento line as originally planned for the high-speed rail. It creates the ideas of openness and accountability that I think you're talking about at this time. And it’s true openness and accountability that creates just better funding practices, and easier ways to get funding, and an overall way that we can all better talk about and feel comfortable with the project. I work with, there's a whole new field developing in the future of openness and accountability with the future of surveillance technology and data collection for local communities. It’s open public policies and guidelines that really help organize how a city and a community talks about its technology and how it plans and how technology will be placed in the, how you can hold it accountable. And you can ask, the public can simply ask now more, “What technologies are being placed?” And they don't have to feel they are in fear. That we're in a constant state of war in asking. It's a question of our community democracy. It’s these sorts of good organizational practices that could really help (fifteen seconds remaining) with the questions of future openness and accountability with the CHSR project. And I wish you luck in understanding those concepts. It's those concepts that build our brighter, happier future. Good luck in those efforts.
04-04-2022Project EmailCandiceKendall-VLGood afternoon Mr. Kelly,
Please find attached a comment letter from the Tri-Valley - San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority on the California High-Speed Rail Authority's Draft 2022 Business Plan. Thank you for your consideration, Candice Kendall | Executive Assistant Tri-Valley San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority 1362 Rutan Court, Suite 100 | Livermore, CA 94551
04-05-2022WebsiteSALARESCO -JR.[-(I'M) A SUPPORTER OF H.S.R.. AND I WOULD TOO RIDE IT TOO THE MANY STOPS . I BELIEVE THE TRIAN NEEDS TOGO TOP SPEED TO MAKE ITS APP. SO MAYBE WE SHOULD GO FOR VIA DUCS. -WHY, TO SAVE AND PREVENT ANY WRONG THAT COULD HAPPEN.ITS THE FUTURE BUILD IT RIGHT THE 1ST.TIME.
04-05-2022WebsiteCindybloomI predicted the cost would go up about 5% and I was right. Nothing else has really changed (mismanagement, lack of transparency, propaganda, destroying the environment during construction, willful lack of recognizing wildfire and earthquake dangers) EXCEPT the cost is now $105 BILLION. When the voters approved Prop 1A, the measure narrowly passed based on a budget of $45 billion. Do you think if it were voted on today, that voters would approve it? Calling the people who keep approving this project morons is an insult to morons. Stop the damn thing. If this was a private sector corporation, this project would have terminated in 2014. And, the people responsible for the mismanagement would have been fired. You can't just keep raising the budget and then claim "cost savings." You cannot keep raising the budget and expect people to accept this. STOP THIS PROJECT! NOW!
04-07-2022Project EmailTimSbrantiHello- Please accept these comments from the Innovation Tri-Valley Leadership Group regarding the Draft 2022 CHSRA Business Plan. Thank you in advance of your consideration. View letter

Sincerely, -- *Tim Sbranti* Director of Strategic Initiatives Innovation Tri-Valley Leadership Group 925.858.5303 tsbranti@innovationtrivalley.orgwww.innovationtrivalley.org
04-07-2022WebsiteLorelleMoe-LunaPlease see attached letter.
04-10-2022WebsiteMarcellFulopSee attached pdf for comment.
04-11-2022WebsiteKaraVuicichThank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the Draft 2022 Business Plan. The comment letter from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission is attached.
04-11-2022Project EmailRoderickDiazAttached is a comment letter submitted to the California High Speed Rail Authority on its Draft 2022 Business Plan. It is submitted in time to meet the CHSRA requested submission by April 11, 2022. Thank you, Roderick Diaz [Metrolink] Roderick Diaz Director, Planning & Development 213.452.0455 t 213.435.4193 m WASH YOUR HANDS, WEAR YOUR MASK, WATCH YOUR DISTANCE.
04-11-2022Project EmailStephenG. FoxDear Mr. Kelly, SCAG appreciates the opportunity to review the Draft 2022 Business Plan.
Attached is a comment letter. Steve Fox Senior Regional Planner
04-11-2022Project EmailJosephAlcockGood Morning: Please find attached the City of Anaheim's comments on the California High Speed Rail Authority's Draft 2022 Business Plan. Feel free to contact me at 714 765-4957 should you have any questions regarding our comments. Best, Joseph Alcock Principal Transportation Planner City of Anaheim Public Works Department ¦ Traffic and Transportation 200 South Anaheim Boulevard ¦ Suite 276 Anaheim, CA 92805 (714) 765-4957 jalcock@anaheim.net
04-11-2022Project EmailStevenSmithDear CHSRA colleagues, Please see the attached comment letter from the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) regarding the draft 2022 High Speed Rail Business Plan. We greatly appreciate the opportunity to comment and will look forward to seeing a revised draft to be considered by the Authority Board. Please confirm receipt of these comments. Kind regards, Steve Smith, PE Director of Planning ssmith@gosbcta.com 909.884.8276 | Office
04-11-2022Project EmailAlissaGuzmanGood morning, Please see the attached response letter. Thank you, Alissa Guzman Administrative Assistant Land Use Services Department Phone: (909) 387-4111 385 N. Arrowhead Avenue, 1st Floor San Bernardino, CA 92415-0187
04-11-2022WebsiteJenniferFlachmanDear Chairperson Tom Richards and Esteemed Members of the Board, Attached for your consideration are letters of support from the City of Merced and local business owners and operators in the Merced community. Thank you for your time, Sincerely, Jennifer Flachman Senior Management Analyst/Public Information Officer City of Merced | 678 W. 18th Street | Merced, CA 95340 (209) 385-6232 | (209) 564-0235 cell flachmanj@cityofmerced.org | www.cityofmerced.org
04-12-2022Project EmailJesseKoehlerDear CHSRA staff: Attached, please find a letter from San Francisco transportation agencies regarding the Draft 2022 Business Plan. Regards, *Jesse Koehler* (he/him) Rail Program Manager Office: 415-522-4823 jesse.koehler@sfcta.org sfcta.org
04-12-2022Project EmailRobertOvadiaAttached please find the Town of Atherton's comment letter to the High-Speed Rail Authority's Draft 2022 Business Plan. Thank you, Robert Ovadia, P.E. Director of Public Works Town of Atherton 80 Fair Oaks Lane Atherton, CA 94027 (650) 752-0541 - Office rovadia@ci.atherton.ca.us
04-12-2022Project EmailLilyMadjus WuHello, Enclosed is the
Transbay Joint Powers Authority letter of support and comments to the CHSRA Draft 2022 Business Plan. Thank you for the oportunity to participate in the development of the Plan. Thanks, Lily Lily Madjus Wu Communications and Legislative Affairs Director Transbay Joint Powers Authority 425 Mission Street, Suite 250 San Francisco, CA 94105 lmadjuswu@tjpa.org 415-597-4039 www.tjpa.org Please consider the environment before printing this message.
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04-12-2022Project EmailGregGreenwayPlease see the attached comments from Peninsula Freight Rail Users Group (PFRUG). Thank you,Greg Greenway
04-12-2022EmailJesseFrancoView letter
04-12-2022EmailChristineTurnerView letter
04-12-2022EmailLouisThompsonView letter
04-11-2022EmailJoshPedrozoView letter
04-11-2022EmailStacieGuzmanView letter
04-11-2022EmailRobinDonovanView letter
04-11-2022EmailAnnissaFragosoView letter
04-11-2022EmailEdwinKainthView letter
04-11-2022LetterJosephThompsonView letter

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