June 2024 I Will Ride Update

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Greetings I Will Riders,

Time to celebrate environmental clearance! Yay! This edition covers the significant final milestone cleared from San Francisco to Los Angeles along with information about the Authority’s first exhibit at the California State Fair!

California High-Speed Rail Authority Board Clears Final Environmental Milestone to Connect Downtown San Francisco to Downtown Los Angeles

The California High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors approved the final environmental document for the Palmdale to Burbank project section. The alignment reduces the length of tunneling that would traverse the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains. This major milestone is the final environmental clearance needed for the route from downtown San Francisco to downtown Los Angeles, with only the Los Angeles to Anaheim section remaining in Phase 1. This means that 463 miles are now cleared.

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The Authority considered six routes from Palmdale to Burbank. The preferred alternative is 38 miles long and runs close to State Route 14.

California High-Speed Rail Authority Approves Contractor, Moves Design of Track and Overhead Electrical Systems Forward

California High-Speed Rail Authority representatives and the Central Valley Station Design team led by Foster + Partners and ARUP held a series of in-person open houses across the Central Valley to share information about the project. The events took place in Bakersfield, Kings/Tulare, Fresno and Merced from April 29 to May 2. They provided an opportunity to meet the project team, learn about station design and ask questions. The open house presentations were very interactive and gave the community a look at the future stations while being able to contribute feedback. If you missed it, check out the video below.

Rendering of a high-speed train in motion at dusk

California State Fair

The Authority will be sharing the experience of high-speed rail at the State Fair from July 12 to 28. The exhibit will feature the white mock-up of the train interior, a VR space, kids’ area along with graphics of stations, and a presentation stage for speakers. Come join us in experiencing California’s High-Speed Rail!

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Farris wheel in background with rail cars in front displaying Cal Expo and blue ribbon that says California State Fair July 12 to 28.

Spring All Aboard Statewide Newsletter Now Available!

The second All Aboard Statewide newsletter of the year has been released! It covers the progress we have made in the Central Valley, our upcoming procurements and how we are part of the high-speed rail conversation at the federal level. The newsletter also includes updates from Northern and Southern California about how they are working with our partners and the public to get ready for when high-speed rail comes to their regions.

APTA’s Passenger Transport Publication Highlights How HSR is Moving Closer from Vision into Reality

Check out a feature from our Executive Fellow, Micah Wilcox, on Passenger Transport, the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) flagship trade publication. The piece provides a comprehensive update on the project’s progress with trainsets, white mockups, station renderings, construction, environmental documents, economic benefits, and more.

Climate-Ready Workforce

California is one of nine states and territories selected by the federal government to receive $60 million as part of a significant effort to build a nationwide climate-ready workforce. Part of the investment will go into establishing the Los Angeles County Climate Ready Employment Council at Long Beach City College which will help develop training, internships, and job placement services for occupations in the solar and water sectors. The demand for skilled workers will help with the wide range of climate impacts such as sea level rise, flooding, water quality issues and the increasing need for renewable energy.

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A worker in a hardhat inspects a row of large storage batteries.

Google’s Huge San Jose Project Moving Ahead

The Google project is a mixed-use campus on 80 acres designated for office buildings, housing units, and retail space around Diridon Station. In June Google indicated it was discussing the possibility for an affordable housing project for the site referenced as Downtown West. This could increase downtown business, employment, and money pouring into stores, restaurants, and museums.  “We are taking a measured approach to ensure our real estate investments meet the current and future needs of our hybrid workforce, business and communities,” a Google spokesperson said.

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Girls play chess during the Creekside Socials block party in downtown San Jose in the area of Google's proposed Downtown West mixed-used neighborhood near the Diridon train station and SAP Center. 9-9-2023 San Jose, Calif. (George Avalos/Bay Area News Group)

First Partner Siebel Newsom kicks off summer with Annual Summer Book Club

The First Partner’s Summer Book Club is part of the First Partner’s California for ALL Kids initiative, it is an annual program and partnership with the California State Library that aims to increase literacy and reduce learning loss by encouraging kids and caregivers to read throughout the summer. The selection of this year’s book list highlighted themes of mental health struggles, identity and belonging and the importance of exploration and curiosity. The books will be available for check-out at most public libraries across the state.

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Logo of a book with the state of California and a bear on each page inside a circle that says, first partner’s summer book club with stars on left and right side.

Building High-Speed Rail is ‘Not for the Faint-Hearted.’ Here’s How to Get Started

The U.S. is reaching a moment of implementing a nationwide high-speed rail network with two dedicated lines under construction and five in the planning stages. A guide for high-speed rail advocates was released by the U.S. High Speed Rail Coalition with information on organizing, building community and political support and finding funding. There are five stages of high-speed rail including project initiation, development, final design, construction, and operations. It is no easy task, there are risks involved and a lot of cooperation needed.

Six construction workers stand on rebar along a viaduct.

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WTS Orange County Scholarship Program
To encourage women pursuing careers in transportation, Women’s Transportation Seminar – Orange County (WTS-OC) will be offering high school, community college, undergraduate, and graduate scholarships to women throughout Southern California. In 2023, WTS-OC awarded 11 scholarships for a total of $50,000.
Learn more and apply

WTS Los Angeles Chapter Scholarship Program
WTS-LA is a leader in supporting and mentoring the next generation of transportation professionals in Southern California. For more than three decades, we have awarded scholarships to deserving women entering the transportation field. Over the past decade, our chapter has awarded over 100 scholarships worth over half a million dollars through the generosity of our members and donors.

In 2023, WTS-LA awarded $113,000 in competitive academic scholarships to women in high school, community college, undergraduate, and graduate programs in transportation-related fields.
Learn more and apply

Social Media Manager – California High-Speed Rail Authority (Sacramento, CA)
Under the direction of the Assistant Deputy Director of Communications and Public Relations, and in consultation with the Chief of Strategic Communications, the Social Media Manager is responsible for the coordination and development of the digital content and engagement tools for the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s (Authority) comprehensive statewide social media engagement plan. The incumbent is responsible for independently monitoring the Authority’s official social media accounts and interacting with users through these platforms in real-time as the official voice of the Authority. The incumbent is also responsible for the planning and implementation of social media campaigns designed to promote the high-speed rail program on the Authority’s social media and other digital platforms. The incumbent is also responsible for tracking and reporting strategic communication social media projects to Authority staff and leadership.
Learn more and apply

Survey Intern – Dragados (Selma, CA)
As a survey intern working for Dragados, the incumbent will support field crews with interpreting drawings and specs, perform quantity calculations and measurement, assist in work planning and surveying. The incumbent will also perform office engineering duties such as material takeoffs and basic calculations, assist in procurement and maintenance, aid in project record keeping and cost reports, and assist with change orders and subcontractor operations.
Learn more and apply

Stay Connected

Informational flyer for student I Will Ride program. Webinars, Project Updates, Student Opportunities and Construction Tours. Photos of professionals panel, train rendering, students tabling and construction tour.

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The California High-Speed Rail Authority makes every effort to ensure the website and its contents meet mandated ADA requirements as per the California State mandated Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA standard. If you are looking for a particular document not located on the California High-Speed Rail Authority website, you may make a request for the document under the Public Records Act through the Public Records Act page. If you have any questions about the website or its contents, please contact the Authority at info@hsr.ca.gov.