Winter 2025 I Will Ride Newsletter

This newsletter is designed for students and professionals who work with students to provide the latest high-speed rail news, student jobs, and transportation-related scholarships! Check back quarterly for updates or sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox at hsr.ca.gov/i-will-ride. 

Next Chapter of California High-Speed Rail

Joined by Governor Gavin Newsom, CEO Choudri, Kern County Board of Supervisor Leticia Perez, and others, the Authority held a press conference to commemorate the completion of Construction Package 4 (CP4) and the start of a new phase of the program for track, systems and trains with the kickoff of the railhead project. The completion of the southernmost portion of construction known as CP4, a 22-mile segment in Tulare and Kern County, serves as a foundational component to begin the next phase of the program, the railhead facility. The railhead facility will be a critical aspect of the Merced to Bakersfield high-speed rail corridor. With various proposed tracks, this staging, loading, and docking area serves a critical function for installing tracks and an electrification system. The design of the railhead was completed in 2024, and construction is set to be completed by the summer of 2025. At this event, Governor Newsom emphasized his commitment to the program and celebrated the progress and the tremendous value this program brings to California’s Central Valley, a region often overlooked and under resourced. “This is not just a transportation project; it is a transformation project,” said Newsom, as he emphasized this program has always been about economic development, physical infrastructure, and building human capital. Also speaking at the event was one of the construction workers that has been on the project since the commencement of construction in 2015, Anthony Canales, now structure superintendent. Canales shared his pride in working on this program, and the impact it has had on his life. Canales emphasized the value of working locally in his community, which is not always an option for those in the construction industry. He talked about how this project has transformed lives, giving people the resources to purchase homes and care for their families. Above all, Canales has seen firsthand the complexity of the infrastructure project and been part of the unique group building for the future. “Witnessing the immense progress in heavy civil construction on a project of this scale has been nothing short of extraordinary,” said Canales. “The dedication, innovation and craftsmanship that goes into every bridge, every structure, and mile of preparation are a testament of hard work and pride of men and woman building this legacy.” Watch the livestream of the press conference: https://www.youtube.com/live/NeDORT4PStE?si=zytEiSrT7mhv7Wd-Panlabas na Link

Graduate Student Advances Engineering, Project Management Career with California High-Speed Rail

The future of transportation continues to shine bright for young talent and those passionate about transforming transportation systems in California and beyond. Current graduate student and former student assistant with the California High-Speed Rail Authority, Bhushan Choudhari is eagerly building valuable skills in leadership and management to advance his career in engineering, transportation, and project management.
“The California high-speed rail project is a groundbreaking initiative that will redefine transportation in the state. It offers a sustainable, efficient, and environmentally friendly alternative, reducing traffic congestion, and connecting communities seamlessly,” says Choudhari with enthusiasm. “I am honored to contribute to a project that is not only innovative but also impacts the lives of millions.”
After earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Choudhari is pursuing a master’s in engineering management at California State University, Northridge. He describes the graduate program as one that “bridges my technical expertise in mechanical engineering with management and leadership skills.” Through a well-rounded education, Choudhari is setting up his career not only at the technical level, but also in key aspects of the industry like program management and leadership.

Students can work on the California high-speed rail project through two avenues: directly for the Authority or for the contractors. Students gain valuable skills and knowledge about the program that helps them advance in the rail and transportation field. As a former student assistant for the Authority on the Rail Operations and Program Delivery Team, Choudhari worked closely on system integration, ensuring various components of the trains aligned cohesively. He recalls some of his most memorable work with the unit, getting to learn and utilize a requirements database system called IBM Engineering Requirements Management DOORS. Choudhari is grateful to be “taught the importance of precision and adaptability in managing such a large-scale infrastructure project,” gaining real-life experience of a high-speed rail system.

Choudhari looks back at his time at the Authority, recognizing how mentors helped him understand the complexity of the project and the overall rail industry. Deputy Director of Rail Operations Dominique Rulens and Rubina Greenwood, Director of Network Integration, helped him understand the complexity of the work and how to ensure that the team is “building a cohesive and reliable transportation solution.”
Choudhari says he has found a great deal of inspiration for engineering and transportation from his mentors, family, and the high-speed rail project. “Seeing the Authority’s ambition and impact of such a transformative project, motivated me to continue contributing to its success.” Choudhari is excited to continue his career in the transportation industry and is grateful for newfound skills for delivering large-scale and impactful projects.

Yaqeline Castro

I Will Ride Webpage Updates

The Authority has been busy at work updating all I Will Ride student outreach pages. We are excited to share the latest updates and changes that help students and teachers learn about jobs, classroom resources and more. You can begin your search with the I Will Ride homepage, highlighting our mission, vision, and various programs and resources. On that homepage, you can sign-up to get the I Will Ride quarterly newsletter in your inbox using an easy sign-up link for students, education professionals, and the public. Three additional I Will Ride pages include Mga Trabaho ng Mag-aaral, Mga Presentasyon at Aktibidad ng Mag-aaral, at Classroom resources. The Student Jobs page answers students’ most asked question, “how do I get a job on California high-speed rail?” The Student Presentations and Activities illustrates statewide outreach we have conducted with schools and the tremendous opportunity to connect with local communities to educate and inspire students. Lastly, the Classroom Resources page is the starting point for teachers who want to bring the topic of high-speed rail to the classroom!

California’s Engineering Students Gather for Inspiring Summit at UCLA

Student engineers ask great questions. What will be the circumference of your tunnels? What is the final work being done on Construction Package 4? How much electricity will your battery storage packs hold from your solar power arrays? Our staff heard questions like those and more at the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Student Summit held Feb. 1 at UCLA. Students often ask some of the best questions because they’re so engaged with the outcome of our project. This event was no exception. The ITE Student Leadership Summit is an annual event that brings together ITE students from all over California to learn and network. Southern California staff outreach experts Thung Chang and Diana Delgado Cornejo handled as many inquiries as they could on a very busy Saturday career fair. The Authority helped sponsor the event because we value educating and helping the next generation of engineers in any way we can. To that end, if you live in Southern California and you’d like to see an in-person or virtual classroom presentation, email our team at southern.california@hsr.ca.gov.

Career Day Event in Southern California

Last month, the Southern California outreach team participated in the Nontraditional Career Day and Employer Meet-up at Mount San Antonio College, hosted by the Women of AT&T. Students from more than 15 high schools learned about industry leaders’ careers in engineering, technology, and business, as well as future career opportunities. Students engaged and visited the Authority outreach booth to learn more about the project and future career opportunities and got to hear about high-speed rail careers of the 21st century as one of the event presentations.

Economic Impact of California High-Speed Rail Investment

Investments in high-speed rail increase social and economic mobility by producing various economic impacts. California high-speed rail investments have produced nearly $22 billion in economic activity. The Authority has invested $13 billion into the program and continues to see the tremendous economic impacts and opportunities created from this investment. The Authority recently released the annual economic impact report highlighting regional project impacts, job-years created and the level of investment in disadvantaged communities.

2025 Fresno International Transportation Innovations S.T.E.P. Summit

The Authority is excited to share our partnership with the 2025 Sustainable Transportation Energy Progress (S.T.E.P.) Summit, hosted by the Fresno State Transportation Institute (FSTI). This event will highlight innovations in transportation, featuring advancements in hydrogen energy, bioenergy, and electrification, as well as technical sessions and tours on local and regional innovations concerning equity, AI, and active transportation. The Authority is a proud sponsor of the event and will have an exhibit table giving participants an opportunity to speak directly with Authority staff.

Improving Fresno Transportation Infrastructure Today and For the Future

At a grade separation groundbreaking event in Fresno, CEO Choudri shares that once in place, this and any grade separation makes it easier for people to move across two sides of the railroad and creates a safe environment to walk, bike, or drive safely without the dangers of freight rail. CEO Choudri and others celebrated the December 2024 groundbreaking for the Mckinley Avenue and Golden State Boulevard grade separation in Fresno, CA. The event also featured Fresno Mayor Dyer and local elected officials all emphasizing their continued support and commitment of California high-speed rail in the Central Valley and beyond. The transportation infrastructure the Authority is building now has immediate benefits to residents of Fresno. For example, the dozens of grade separations the Authority is building or has already built in the Central Valley allow traffic to go over or under existing freight railroads, eliminating dangerous rail intersections. As Councilmember Miguel Arias noted, “Every single project that high-speed rail’s undertaken in the city of Fresno, they have improved the public infrastructure around them… building new bridges, new interchanges, new roadways, reconnecting communities.

Palmdale to Burbank, California High-Speed Rail Route into Los Angeles County

The Authority has a new video that gives the public an inside look on how the system will travel from Palmdale to Burbank. This 38-mile project section will create an important and efficient rail connection between Palmdale and Burbank.

Call for Papers: International Virtual Conference on the Socioeconomic Impacts of High-Speed Rail

The International Union of Railways (UIC) Alliance of Universities is now accepting session proposals for the 5th International Symposium on high-speed rail socioeconomic impacts. The aim of this Symposium is to explore recent research on the analysis and quantification of the effects, both on economy and on society, of investments in high-speed rail systems. For the fifth year in a row, Professor Francesca Pagliara, member of the Alliance and Professor of transport engineering at the University of Naples Federico II is leading the effort. Papers focusing on the impacts on productivity, land use, tourism, property market, pricing policies, project evaluation, competition, integration with other transport modes, equity, and inclusion are welcome.