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NEWS RELEASE: California High-Speed Rail Sparks Billions in Economic Benefit January 18, 2024 SACRAMENTO, Calif. – New data released today by the California High-Speed Rail Authority shows investments in this first-in-the-nation project are continuing to provide billions in economic benefit to the state. The Authority’s 2023 Economic Impact Analysis Report shows the California high-speed rail project continues to be a proven job creator that bolsters the local economy, particularly disadvantaged communities. “High-speed rail is leading the way toward the Golden State’s sustainable transportation future,” said Authority CFO Brian Annis. “With our continued partnership with the federal government and our local partners, investment in high- speed rail creates good-paying union jobs and generates income to some of California’s most vulnerable people and their communities.” Ninety-nine percent of the project’s 2022-23 fiscal year expenditures has gone to California businesses and workers, with two of every three of those dollars going to disadvantaged communities, driving economic activity in these areas. To close out 2023, the Authority marked a historic milestone, announcing the creation of more than 12,000 construction jobs since the start of project construction. Most of these jobs have gone to Central Valley residents.

NEWS RELEASE: Putting Jobs First: California High-Speed Rail Crosses 13,000 Construction Jobs Milestone January 18, 2024 FRESNO, Calif. –The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) today celebrated the creation of more than 13,000 construction jobs helping build the nation’s first high-speed rail system, with more than 70 percent of those jobs going to residents of California’s Central Valley. On average, nearly 1,400 individuals are dispatched each day to a high-speed rail construction site. In the Central Valley* 4,222 jobs in Fresno County 2,538 in Kern County 1,282 in Tulare County 580 in Madera County 462 in Kings County 189 in Merced County Remaining California Counties: 3,387 Out-of-State: 369 For more than a decade, the Authority has been strong partners with the California State Building Trades. In 2023, the Authority marked 10 years since the establishment of our Community Benefits Agreement, which has helped create thousands of good-paying union jobs – including more than 10,000 in the past five years – with most of the jobs going directly to individuals from disadvantaged communities. The Authority has begun work to extend the 119 miles currently under construction to 171 miles of future electrified high-speed rail from Merced to Bakersfield. There are currently more than 25 active construction sites in the Central Valley, with the Authority having fully environmentally cleared 422 miles of the high-speed rail program from the Bay Area to Los Angeles County. For the latest on high-speed rail construction, visit www.buildhsr.comExternal Link.

NEWS RELEASE: California High-Speed Rail hits $3.5 billion Contract Milestone in Under a Year December 28, 2025 SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California High-Speed Rail Authority has opened a $3.5 billion bidding process for companies to build track and rail systems for its high-speed rail project. The agency in a press release described the project as “the first true high-speed rail track and systems ever built in the United States.” The project is North America’s biggest high-speed rail effort and promises to bring faster, cleaner travel across California. The California High-Speed Rail has been a long time in the making, having first been approved by voters in 2008. The large-scale project has faced hurdles including funding challenges and legal reviews. This contract moves the project closer to becoming operational. The Track and Systems Construction Contract (TSCC) seeks bidders to work on a 119-mile stretch currently under construction and the planned extensions to Merced and Bakersfield. The contract is divided into nine packages covering elements including track, electrification, train control, communications, and testing and safety checks. Ian Choudri, California High-Speed Rail Authority’s CEO, said in a press release: “Bringing this contract to market today is a major milestone of our new delivery strategy: building faster, smarter, and more economically. Together with our innovative direct purchases of track and systems materials, this action puts us on an accelerated path to laying the first true high-speed rail track in the Western Hemisphere next year.” A prebid conference and a small business workshop will be held in Sacramento on December 19, and proposals due by March 2, 2026, Rail Journal reported. NEWS RELEASE: High-Speed Rail Authority to Receive Record $3.1 Billion From Biden Administration December 5,2024 SACRAMENTO, Calif. – In the single strongest show of federal support to date, the US Department of Transportation has awarded the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) nearly $3.1 billion in grant funding for continued progress on the country’s first electrified 220-mph high-speed rail system. “California is delivering on the first 220-mph, electric high-speed rail project in the nation,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “This show of support from the Biden-Harris Administration is a vote of confidence in today’s vision and comes at a critical turning point, providing the project new momentum.” This is the largest grant the Authority has received and was made possible by President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This influx of funding will build on the project’s ongoing success which has created over 12,000 good paying union jobs to the region. “I am proud to champion this historic federal investment for California High-Speed Rail,” said US Senator Alex Padilla. “California has never been afraid to take on big and bold challenges — including the development of the nation’s first true high-speed rail network. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and President Biden’s leadership, California has a partner in this effort to power our economy, reduce emissions, and connect our communities through high-speed rail.” “California takes great pride in our ambitious status as the leading edge of high-speed rail in America.  With this new $3.07 billion in federal funding, we take an important leap closer to making high-speed rail a reality in California,” Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said.  “An electrified high-speed rail network will dramatically improve the quality of life in the Central Valley and up and down California.  These bullet trains will make travel quicker and easier, bring housing closer, create new jobs and economic opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach, secure cleaner air for our children and help save our planet.  Thank you to President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg for their recognition of the importance of high-speed rail to California and to our Nation.” “For decades, I’ve worked to make California’s high-speed rail system a reality. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law I helped pass; we now have significant investment to make major progress. I worked to secure this $3.1 billion federal grant to ensure continued economic growth and investments in California’s San Joaquin Valley. I want to thank President Biden, Governor Newsom, and our partners. We still have much more work to be done,” said Congressman Costa. “This historic federal investment sends a clear message that America is serious about high-speed rail, starting right here in California. With a federal partnership that’s stronger than ever, we are well on our way to delivering fast, clean and reliable high-speed rail service to connect our state’s population centers,” said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. “I thank the Biden-Harris Administration and our Congressional leadership for this visionary investment in the future of transportation.” “This record federal grant is a welcomed investment in the future of this transformative project. The Authority is humbled by the expression of confidence and commitment from our federal partner,” said High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Brian Kelly. “We look forward to advancing the project, putting more Californians to work and buying new, electrified high-speed trains, all made possible by this grant.” The $3.073 billion will advance work in California’s Central Valley including: Fund six electric trains for testing and use Fund design and construction of trainset facilities Fund design and construction of the Fresno station Fund final design and right-of-way acquisition for the Merced and the Bakersfield extensions Fund construction in the Central Valley This most recent, and largest award received from the Biden-Harris Administration was made possible through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program (FSP-National). Over the last 12 months, the Authority has aggressively pursued and been successful in receiving federal funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Nearly $202 million from the federal government was awarded in September to advance critical safety, grade separation work on the project, and in August, the Authority was awarded another $20 million for the historic Fresno Depot and station site. With this award, the Authority has received more than $3.3 billion in funding from this historic program. In the last 12 months, the Authority has showed continued progress statewide. In 2023, ten structures were completedExternal Link along the first 119-miles of construction and environmental progress has continued with 422 of the 500-mile project now environmentally cleared. In the spring, the Authority crossed a major labor milestone, marking more than 10,000 labor jobs created, and this fall, entered into a major agreement with 13 rail labor unions for operation of the system. Procurements have advanced for trainsets procurement in August and design of track and systems in November. With the southernmost 22-mile stretch of active construction currently on the verge of completion, the Authority continues advanced design work to extend the 119 miles under construction to 171 miles of future electrified high- speed rail from Merced to Bakersfield. The high-speed rail project has created more than 12,000 good-paying jobs since the start of construction, 70% of those going to Central Valley residents. For more information about our big goals… Welcome to the California High-Speed Rail Authority Small Business Program: Small Business Program - California High Speed Rail