November 2023 I Will Ride Update

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Greetings I Will Riders!
As you enter finals season, we are excited to share high-speed rail updates and the latest scholarships. Our Fall 2023 Construction Update shows great progress in construction, train interior design and station design! We included students in the design process with a user testing session in our train interior mockup space. In addition, we have the latest scholarships to start prepping your finances for the 2024/2025 academic year.

Fall 2023 Construction Update

Still from the Construction Update videoWith 10 structures completed in 2023 for California high-speed rail just this year, the Fall 2023 Construction Update provides all the latest progress on getting high-speed rail operational in California. The Authority is under construction for civil works spanning 119 miles from Madera to Kern County in the Central Valley. In addition, the Authority is leading historical work in designing Central Valley stations and train interiors that will be used for anticipated high-speed rail operations in 2030 to 2033.

Watch the Construction Update

 

 

 

Sacramento State Students Inaugural Train Interior Testing Group

The Authority was excited to welcome the first student group for user testing of our train interior mockup spaces in Sacramento. Students with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) of Sacramento State brought their enthusiasm, analysis and thoughts to engage in the three-hour feedback experience. With discussions of seating, entrances, lounge areas, lighting, and much more, the students were excited to provide input for the design of the nation’s first truly electric high-speed rail train that will run at 220 mph. These life size mockups of three different high-speed rail train cars give people the opportunity to test possible seating and accommodating features of a future high-speed rail train, giving designers opportunities to hear recommendations from various stakeholders before we purchase trains. If you would like to learn more about our train interior design process and bring the discussion to your classroom, email us at iwillride@hsr.ca.gov!

Group of 8 people standing discussing a topic in front of large graphics. Small group sit in a train mock up space discussing design choices. Five people testing a seating option in a rail car mock up space. One person standing explaining the seating.

California High-Speed Rail Continues Leading in Sustainability

Photo of the 2023 Sustainability Report with a photo of a large flower in focus and grass and a bridge in the background.  The sky has clouds. Title reads 2023 Sustainability Report Building California’s Sustainable Future. It’s that time again, California High-Speed Rail Authority’s 2023 Sustainability Report Building California’s Sustainable Future is now available for students to utilize for school assignments and capstone projects. The report highlights the nation’s biggest, greenest infrastructure project focusing on reducing impact on the environment and supporting goals of continuing sustainability. It includes benchmarks high-speed rail has reached on offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, restoring 4,400 acres of habitat and protecting 3,190 acres of agricultural land, using cleaner equipment which has resulted in 68% less black carbon than a typical construction site, and reducing water usage by 12% despite the 38% increase in construction activity. Topics covered are economic development, safety and quality, sustainable infrastructure and energy emissions. The electrified high-speed rail will be powered by 100% renewable energy.

2023 Sustainability Report

Big Step Towards Track and Systems

During this month’s board of directors meeting, the California High-Speed Rail Authority approved the release of a new Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Track and Overhead Contact System (OCS) Design Services contract. The goal of this contract is to produce high level designs for the tracks and OCS for the entire 171-mile initial operating segment, as well as detailed designs for the 119-mile segment between Madera and Kern County. This contract includes laying ballast and sub-ballast, which is the base that tracks lay on, the tracks themselves, the overhead wires and the poles that support them, along-track cable containment, access walkways, fencing and drainage. The contract is the first part of a multi-part procurement strategy for designing and building everything needed to run trains on the system. The release of this RFQ is a major step towards the completion of the first truly high-speed rail system in the US.

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California High-Speed Rail Operations Labor Agreement

Earlier this month, the Authority announced a formal agreement with rail labor unions to ensure that traditional rail work on the California high-speed rail will have the option to be union represented. This agreement ensures the highest level of safety and expertise on California’s high-speed rail system with a highly skilled workforce. This agreement will impact thousands of high-speed rail related jobs to train operations and maintenance, maintenance of way facilities and future high-speed rail stations. This agreement further emphasizes the Authority’s commitment to creating good paying and sustaining jobs through the California high-speed rail.

Read More

Tour goers clad in personal protective equipment survey construction, a cloudless sky overhead.Tour goers clad in personal protective equipment survey construction, a cloudless sky overhead.

I Will Ride logo with a train and text that reads internships, Jobs and Scholarships.

System Integration Student Assistant, California High-Speed Rail Authority (Sacramento, CA)

Under close supervision by the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s (Authority) Deputy Chief of Rail Operations Delivery, and in a learner capacity, the Student Assistant will participate in baseline requirement management and integration process, quality control, and quality assurance of data. The Student Assistant will also coordinate meetings with other business units as needed.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Learn more and apply

U.S. DOT Summer Transportation Internship Program for Diverse Groups

Help make the U.S. home to the safest, most efficient and convenient transportation system in the world. The Summer Transportation Internship Program for Diverse Groups (STIPDG) internship program is a unique opportunity for undergraduate, graduate and law students like you to get hands-on experience in public service while learning more about transportation challenges and advancements in the U.S.
In partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation, this program is a critical part of the agency’s employee recruitment efforts. Build your network, develop skills and learn about open positions. And if you love your internship experience, consider applying at USAjobs.gov to pursue a career. During this 10-week program, you will intern five days per week at the U.S. Department of Transportation, with the exception of some optional program opportunities such as field trips throughout the summer. Your internship placement may be at the Washington, D.C. DOT headquarters, or in one of several regional locations across the United States.

Learn more and apply

Capital Fellows Program Applications Open
The Capital Fellows Programs is a nationally recognized public policy fellowships which offer unique experiences in policymaking and development in each branch of government. Capital Fellows are placed at some of the highest levels of California state government and assist state legislators, senior-level executive staff, and court administrators with a broad range of public policy issues and projects and are typically given assignments with a significant amount of responsibility and challenges.
The Authority is a proud partner of the Capital Fellows program having welcomed various fellows for their service year within our Communications team.

Learn more and apply

Creating a Path to Success (CAPS) Leadership Academy

CAPS is a six-month leadership training program for college students. CAPS aims to empower and train the next generation of successful Hispanic civic and business leaders through training, network-building, and ongoing engagement with leaders in business development. Students do not have to have any specific area of focus in school, and students of all academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Learn more and apply

WTS San Francisco Scholarship

WTS’s mission is to build the transportation industry by advancing women worldwide. WTS understands that transportation is far more than people and goods moving from one place to another. It drives growth and an integral part of communities throughout the world. Women’s leadership, skills, and perspectives are essential to ensuring that transportation systems of the future respond to everyone’s needs.
The San Francisco Bay Chapter and International organization encourage women to study and become leaders in transportation by offering scholarships. These are for studying transportation and related fields such as aviation, city planning, engineering, environmental science, logistics, maritime operations, political science and public policy in college and trade schools.

Learn more and apply

Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) National Scholarship

COMTO’s National Scholarship Program supports the strategic goal of ensuring the continuing legacy of minorities in transportation. COMTO annually awards multiple national academic scholarships, ranging from $500 to $6,000 each to minority graduate and undergraduate students from across the country. Scholarship awardees are represented in all academic backgrounds and are pursuing various careers in the transportation industry.

Learn more and apply

WTS International Strategic Partners Scholarships
The WTS Foundation awards scholarships to students pursuing careers in transportation through undergraduate and graduate programs. The scholarships are competitive and based on the applicant’s specific transportation goals, academic record and transportation-related activities or job skills. Minority candidates are encouraged to apply.

Learn more and apply

California Transportation Foundation Scholarships

The California Transportation Foundation’s (CTF) mission is to educate the future of the transportation profession through scholarships, educational programs, mentoring and internships. To learn more about the various scholarship opportunities offered by CTF check out their website below.

Learn more and apply

Amtrak Scholarship 

The Amtrak Scholarship Program provides academic scholarships to undergraduate and graduate college students who have an active interest in the railroad industry. This program has been established to provide support to help encourage academic achievement within railroad programs, ensuring a future in this industry.

Learn more and apply

SmithGroup Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship

SmithGroup created the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Scholarship Program to support and mentor students from historically underrepresented demographics in architecture, interior design, planning, landscape architecture and engineering.  The program’s mission is to provide these students with the opportunity to attain their professional goals while advancing the architecture/engineering/construction (AEC) industry and improving the built environment.

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. Are you a student that wants to learn more about the California high-speed rail project, tour construction or join the project as a fellow or intern? Don’t miss any important updates, opportunities or notifications when you sign up for I Will Ride! Sign-Up for I Will Ride

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