California high-speed rail will connect the mega-regions of the state, contribute to economic development and a cleaner environment, create jobs and preserve agricultural and protected lands. When it is completed, it will run from San Francisco to the Los Angeles basin in under three hours at speeds capable of exceeding 200 miles per hour. The system will eventually extend to Sacramento and San Diego, totaling 800 miles with up to 24 stations. In addition, we are working with regional partners to implement a statewide rail modernization plan that will invest billions of dollars in local and regional rail lines to meet the state’s 21st century transportation needs.
The Phase 1 system will connect San Francisco to the Los Angeles basin via the Central Valley in under three hours on trains capable of reaching more than 200 miles per hour. Phase 2 will extend to Sacramento and San Diego.
CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL WILL fundamentally transform how people move around the state, spur economic growth, create a cleaner environment, and preserve agricultural lands and natural habitat – and it has already created thousands of good-paying jobs.
Objectives & Strategy
Our Objectives
The California High-Speed Rail Authority is working toward three fundamental objectives:
- Initiate high-speed rail passenger service as soon as possible.
- Make strategic, concurrent transportation investments that will link over time and provide mobility, economic and environmental benefits at the earliest possible time.
- Position ourselves to construct additional segments as funding becomes available.
A Building Block Approach
Our implementation and delivery strategy reflects those objectives and reiterates our intent to:
- Complete work on the 119-mile Central Valley Segment under construction now.
- Continue working with federal, state and local partners to make improvements to the system’s bookends in Northern California (Bay Area corridor) and Southern California (Burbank to Anaheim corridor).
- Establish a Merced to Bakersfield high-speed rail line by extending the Central Valley Segment north to Merced and south to Bakersfield.
- Continue project development work on the Silicon Valley to Central Valley line.
- Obtain environmental clearances for all of the Phase 1 project segments
Facts & Figures
INVESTING IN CALIFORNIA’S FUTURE TO:
Increase Mobility to prepare for growth – with the state’s population estimated to reach 45 million by 2060
California high-speed rail will directly
connect 8 of the 10 largest cities
in the state bringing Californians
closer together.
Improve Air Quality by shifting people from cars and planes to clean trains running on 100% renewable energy
400,000 cars
off roads each year
Cut Travel Times and provide a faster,more convenient way to get around the state – and create new opportunities for business-to-business collaboration
Comparative Travel Times text description of the bar chart
* All travel times are approximate. Trips are measured from central business district, existing passenger rail stations, or planned high-speed rail stations. Existing passenger rail travel times were approximated using the Amtrak website, referencing schedules current as of publication. Car travel times were estimated based on mid-week, peak-hour trip. High-speed rail travel times are for non-stop service.
Stimulate Economic Growth across the state – with construction jobs now and maintenance and operation jobs to come. More than 400 disadvantaged workers dispatched to construction sites. To date, 176 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, 56 Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises, 129 Small Businesses located in disadvantaged communities, engaged in the high-speed rail project.
More than 3,500 workers
have been dispatched to work on high-speed rail construction projects in the Central Valley.
539 Small Businesses STATEWIDE through October 2019
Phased High-Speed Rail System Implementation
Want More Information?
Find more information about high-speed rail in California. From factsheets and regional newsletters, to maps and outreach events, get on board with the most up‑to‑date program information.
As of 2019