Business Plan

Legislature Raises Questions on Draft 2016 California High-Speed Rail Business Plan

Uncertainty as to whether cap-and-trade funding would continue past 2020 and opposition to the initial operating segment leaving out the city of Merced were two issues that arose during a Assembly Transportation Committee hearing of the plan.

March 30, 2016 - Fresno Bee

FLV California train

California's High-Speed Train to Nowhere?

Don't tell that to the 18,000 residents of Shafter. However, the Legislative Analyst's Office made clear in its March 17 report that it questioned having the southern end of the first operating segment located "in an unpopulated agricultural area."

March 21, 2016 - Silicon Valley Business Journal

A Change of Direction for California High-Speed Rail

In the face of political opposition and mounting construction costs in Southern California, the state High-Speed Rail Authority has chosen to build north from the Central Valley to San Jose rather than south from Fresno to the San Fernando Valley.

February 22, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

CA HSR Plan Approved. Next Stop: The Legislature

The Authority approved the $68 billion plan. Now the hard work begins in convincing the state legislature to sign off in order to capture the $3.5 billion allocated by the feds and begin construction from the Central Valley to the San Fernando Valley

April 16, 2012 - San Jose Mercury News

A Precipitous Price Drop for California's High-Speed Rail

Knowing that a $100 billion project stood a poor chance of passing muster in a budget-conscious state legislature, Gov. Jerry Brown shaved off $30 billion by using a "blended rail" strategy in the Bay Area and South Coast, i.e. sharing tracks.

April 2, 2012 - The Sacramento Bee - Transportation

Paper Approves HSR Plan; Columnist Has Doubts

The editorial board of The Sacramento Bee was pleased with the new business plan of the HSR Authority, especially its new focus on improving commuter rail, while its premier columnist, Dan Walters, continues to see the project as unnecessary.

November 4, 2011 - The Sacramento Bee - Opinion

New CA HSR Estimates: Double the Cost, Twice As Long To Build

According to preliminary reports on the new business plan, the California High Speed Rail Authority's new estimate for the 800-mile system will be $98.5 billion - initially pegged at $43 billion, and will take an additional 13 years to build.

November 2, 2011 - Los Angeles Times

Make-Or-Break Moment For CA HSR

Nov. 1 is a decisive date for the CA HSR Authority. The long-awaited and once delayed business plan will provide the basis for the legislature to continue funding the $45 billion project or put a halt to it, thus returning massive federal grants.

November 1, 2011 - Mercury News

New CA HSR Obstacle: Lack of Private Funding

In another major blow to the struggling rail project, the High Speed Rail Authority has written the state legislature that private financing, which they had counted on to fund 1/3 the capital cost, may not be available until the train is running.

October 21, 2011 - Los Angeles Times: Environment

How Does CA HSR Project Move Forward Amid Challenges?

Wounded but far from dead, the WSJ examines the many problems plaguing California's formidable HSR project. With federal funding likely to be pulled by House Republicans, the Journal reports on the courses the project could take.

October 18, 2011 - The Wall Street Journal - Business

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