June 2022 I Will Ride Update

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Environmental Review in Bay Area, Silicon Valley Approaching Completion

Map of the 43-mile high-speed rail alignment that runs from San Francisco to San Jose. Four station sites highlighted including Salesforce Transit Center, 4th and King/Townsend, Milbrae -SFO and San Jose.

Earlier this month, the Authority released the Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIR/EIS) for the approximately 43- mile San Francisco to San Jose project section in Northern California. This environmental review is a legal process required by the state and federal government for infrastructure projects that will impact communities. The EIR/EIS can be a complicated process, but the bottom line is that this process requires those entities building the infrastructure project to work with local communities that will be impacted by the project to understand the impacts and find mitigations to offset some of those impacts.

The Authority has created online resources to help people understand the EIR/EIS process. The Authority will bring the San Francisco to San Jose Final EIR/EIS to our Board of Directors in the August Board meeting, where they will listen to public comments, review a presentation on the project section and vote to approve or reject the Final EIR/EIS. If approved by the Authority’s Board of Directors in August, this project section and its environmental document will complete full environmental clearance for high-speed rail in Northern California.

New Video – High-Speed Rail is Happening!

Check out this new short video that shows the amazing progress and exciting plans for high-speed rail in California. You can find the video up now on our YouTube!

Watch the Video

CONTACT

Communications and Media Relations
(916) 322-1422
news@hsr.ca.gov

Privacy Officer
(916) 324-1541
privacyofficer@hsr.ca.gov

TRANSLATION

For consultation and/or translation support, call (916) 324-1541 or email info@hsr.ca.gov.

For TTY/TTD assistance, call (800) 881-5799 or the California Relay Service at 711.

Student Opportunities

Internships and Fellowships

Flatiron (Fresno) – Field Engineer – New College Graduate

As noted on their website, this position provides technical engineering information to ensure construction work complies with all engineering standards, codes, and contract specifications.

Flatiron Job

Flatiron (Fresno) – Field Engineer Summer Intern

Flatiron’s Intern Program provides challenging and rewarding work opportunities for college students majoring in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Construction Management. Join us today at the California High Speed Rail project. As an Intern, you will be given the opportunity to apply your academic training and skills in a real-world setting at any number of project locations. In addition, you will assist the project manager, project engineer, and the rest of the on-site construction staff in the application of principles, methods, and techniques of engineering technology by performing any combination of the following duties at a project job site.

Flatiron Internship

Scholarships

California Transportation Foundation

Caltrans, in collaboration with the California Transportation Foundation provides students interested in a career in transportation some of the most notable scholarships in California. Take a look at this year’s scholarships and make sure to apply before the deadline!

CTF Scholarships

WTS-LA Scholarship Program

According to WTS-LA, “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 2021, WTS-LA awarded $100,000 in competitive academic scholarships to women in high school, community college, undergraduate, and graduate programs in transportation-related fields. We hope to distribute $100,000 again in 2022!” WTS Inland Empire and WTS Orange County are also currently accepting applications for their scholarship program.

WTS-LA Scholarships
WTS-Inland Empire Scholarships
WTS-Orange County Scholarships

ITS California

As per their website, “ITSCA recognizes the importance of recruiting students into our industry. Each year, ITSCA offers scholarships to students who wish to advance their studies in the area of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). This academic year, three different types of scholarships are available.”

To review the three different scholarship opportunities offered by ITs. Check out their website to learn more.
1. ITS and California Transportation Foundation Scholarship (will reward up to 4)
2. International Smart Cities Scholarship
3. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Scholarship

ITS Scholarships

Fresno State Summer STEM Camp Students Tour High-Speed Rail Construction

A student looks intently to the front of the room during a presentation. Student is sitting with a larger group of students and is wearing a hat.

Earlier this month, the Lyles College of Engineering at Fresno State brought summer STEM camp middle and high-school students on a tour of high-speed rail construction in Fresno, CA. The students had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to walk on the San Joaquin River Viaduct that will one day carry high-speed rail trains. High-speed rail is a form of sustainable public transportation that will be used by future generations for years to come. We posted some photos that you can view on social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. You can learn more about our student outreach efforts online at our I Will Ride page.

Young students in a group raise their hands to answer a question. Students in construction safety equipment walk across a large bridge structure.

I Will Ride

Celebrating Graduates of San Jose State University Masters of Transportation Management

Two photos side by side. One photo is a group of 20 or so graduates sitting on a stage behind a woman in front of a podium and above their seats reads Class of 2022. The other photo is a smiling photo of an older man and a sign of logos that are program sponsors.

The Authority was a proud sponsor of the 30th Annual Awards Banquet and Convocation Celebration that recognized graduates of the Master of Science in Transportation Management at the Mineta Transportation Institute. Also within the banquet, the junior high-school winners of the Garett Morgan competition were recognized for their exceptional transportation sustainability project. The reception was joined by the California Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishaken, transportation policy leader Rod Diridon Sr., transportation leader and member of the Authority Peer Review Group Dr. Beverly Scott and former California State senator Jim Beall, in addition to many others.

Rod Diridon Sr. dedicated his address in the banquet to the late Norman Y. Mineta, whom was a founder of the Mineta Transportation Institute. Diridon noted that Norman was a lifelong friend and dedicated his life’s work to transportation and people.

The San Jose’s Masters in Transportation Management program in the Mineta Transportation Institute offers one of the only high-speed and intercity rail certifications in the country and has exceptional opportunities for working professionals looking to expand their education in transportation management and leadership. You can learn more about the program online.

Transportation Management at San Jose State

In the News: California’s Young Face a Bleak Future Without High-Speed Rail

Large viaduct and pergola structure over the San Joaquin River Viaduct in Madera and Fresno California. Overlayed text that reads, In the News.

Berkeley Grad and current State Director of CalPIRG Jenn Engstrom recently released an opinion editorial about the California high-speed rail. Engstrom discuss her 500-mile bike tour with friends in 2008 as a college student sharing her enthusiasm with local community leaders for the high-speed rail project. You can read the full editorial online at Capital Weekly.

Read the Op-Ed

New Video Details High-Speed Rail in Northern California – Invaluable Classroom Resource

Earlier this month, the Authority released a video that details the California high-speed rail project section from San Jose to Merced. In this 7-minute video, the Authority details the San Jose Diridon and Gilroy stations, overhead catenary system (OCS), which is the system that allows the train to run on electricity, project sections that require tunneling and sections of grasslands along the alignment. This video details the complexity of a mega infrastructure project like high-speed rail. In addition, it shows the diverse expertise needed in the workforce. We need the next generation of STEM leaders to prepare for jobs in station planning, electrification, tunneling, preserving habitats and much more.

Watch the Video

Fresno State Transportation Institute Hosting K-12 Railroad Model Competition

Ad for Rail Competition. Text includes Fresno State Transportation Institute Hosting k-12 Railroad Model Competition.

Fresno State is hosting a Railroad Model competition for students of all ages! Students can register for a specific competition group based on their grade. The competition is open to all Schools in Fresno and Madera County. The goal of the event is to encourage students to start thinking about building a better future with transportation sciences. Students will engage in three steps while designing their model rail: research and presentation, design and build, and operate. The Fresno State Transportation Institute will offer support to entrants with mentorship, instruction manuals, video tutorials and more.

Learn More

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? Possibly 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

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.