New legislation extends the state’s cap-and-trade program to 2045 and formalized a yearly allocation to the California high-speed rail project.
California has committed $1 billion in annual funding from cap-and-trade revenue to its high-speed rail project, giving CAHSR a crucial financial lifeline.
“The steady funding agreement, formalized under new legislation signed this week, gives the California High-Speed Rail Authority the long-term stability it says is essential to completing the project's initial Merced-to-Bakersfield segment by 2033,” explains Theo Berman in Newsweek.
New legislation signed this week extends California’s cap-and-trade program to 2045 and establishes the appropriation to high-speed rail through the same year. “The authority said the sustained funding would fill the current gap in its business plan and provide a critical match for future federal grant opportunities. It also enables the agency to pursue private-sector partnerships and begin work on trainset procurement and early operations planning.”
To date, 70 miles of track bed and over 50 bridges in the Central Valley segment have been completed, and tracklaying is expected to begin later this year.
Read the full story: California High-Speed Rail Secures $1 Billion Annual Funding
California High-Speed Rail Slashes $1.7B From 2026 Budget
The CHSRA plans to complete the Central Valley segment of the line and begin revenue service as soon as possible.
HSR Reaches Key Settlement in Northern California City
The state’s high-speed rail authority reached an agreement with Millbrae, a key city on the train’s proposed route to San Francisco.
Federal Grants for Passenger Rail Top $8 Billion
The Federal Railroad Administration announced the grants to dozens of projects for expanding or building new rail corridors.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment
The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal
Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states
Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority