California High-Speed Rail
![Amtrak Coast Starlight passenger train passing over bridge in Altamont Pass, California.](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/Coast_Starlight_on_the_Altamont_Pass%2C_April_2011.jpg.webp?itok=tG5aRj4w)
Amtrak Expanding Service in California’s Central Valley
Amtrak is planning a major expansion to the passenger rail lines connecting the Central Valley and the Bay Area.
![Aerial view of Wasco viaduct built for California HIgh-Speed Rail project.](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/WascoViaduct_2024March.png.webp?itok=8mP5f1v-)
50,000 California State Fairgoers Visit High-Speed Rail Exhibit
An interactive exhibit offered visitors a glimpse into the future rail system.
![Historic red tile roofed train depot in Fresno, California.](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/Fresno_station_2434_35_%28cropped2%29.JPG.webp?itok=FUa_SJJJ)
Historic Fresno Train Depot Will Become Part of HSR Station
The 150-year-old building will see new life as a retail space as part of a flurry of new development along the upcoming high-speed rail line.
![Rendering of station for California High-Speed Rail train](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/CA%20HSR.jpg.webp?itok=vbsCvP-z)
California High-Speed Rail Gains Final Approval
The last segment between Palmdale and Burbank will be one of the most challenging to build.
![View of wide, deserted-looking street with arched sign reading "Fresno - Best little city in the U.S.A. - Van Ness Avenue - Entrance" in Fresno, California.](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/AdobeStock_268419409.jpeg.webp?itok=DM5MxBeB)
Fresno Pins Economic Hopes on High-Speed Rail
The Central Valley town anticipates an economic boost when the long-awaited California High-Speed Rail begins operations.
![Close-up of 'To Trains' sign above blurred train platform in Washington, D.C.](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/AdobeStock_302076271_Editorial_Use_Only.jpeg.webp?itok=OYmP47Lm)
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.
![Rendering of California high-speed rail train viaduct with arches](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/CAHSR_SJ_River_Viaduct-scaled.jpg.webp?itok=uhcW_udS)
Tracking U.S. ‘Higher-Speed’ Rail Progress
Five projects are moving the United States forward on so-called “higher-speed” rail.
![Nighttime view of the last Southern Pacific Lark overnight train leaving Los Angeles Union Station on April 8, 1968](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/SP_3206_with_last_Lark_April_8_1968_LAUPTxRP_-_Flickr_-_drewj1946.jpg.webp?itok=UG9Ueib8)
Startup Proposes L.A.-to-San Francisco Night Train
The privately operated train would use existing tracks to provide overnight service.
![Rendering of California high-speed rail train viaduct with arches](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/CAHSR_SJ_River_Viaduct-scaled.jpg.webp?itok=uhcW_udS)
CA High-Speed Rail’s Latest Challenge: Floodwater
The historic precipitation that fell on the state of California in past months poses a unique and unanticipated threat to the state’s big infrastructure project in the Central Valley.
![Rendering of station for California High-Speed Rail train](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/CA%20HSR.jpg.webp?itok=vbsCvP-z)
Starpower Hired to Design California High-Speed Rail Station
The planning, engineering, and design team will develop the first four Central Valley stations on the train line.
![High-Speed Rail](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/anaheim-grade-separation-b_8595402893_o.jpg.webp?itok=7H59ycs-)
California High-Speed Rail Recommits to Bakersfield-to-Merced Segment
The California High-Speed Rail Authority also certified the Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement for the San Francisco to San Jose section of the route in August.
![Bakersfield and Fresno Sign](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/shutterstock_135635078-crop.jpg.webp?itok=k9PJCWu9)
California Budget Includes $4.2 Billion for High-Speed Rail
The recently approved state budget directs $4.2 billion in bond funding to the Bakersfield-to-Merced leg of California’s long-awaited high-speed rail project.
![A conceptual rendering of three high-speed rail trains. The middle train is orange; the other two are black.](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/High-Speed-Rail-Concept.jpg.webp?itok=7kNNqldR)
The California High-Speed Rail Project Illustrates America’s Transit Issues
Slow progress and a bloated budget have plagued the High-Speed Rail project linking San Francisco to Los Angeles, exposing deeper issues with American transit projects.
![Construction fo the California High-Speed Rail project is shown running parallel to Highway 99 in California's Central Valley.](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/San_Joaquin_River_Viaduct_aerial_2019.jpeg.webp?itok=U-E3tc7f)
California High-Speed Rail Status Check
The New York Times recently checked in with the California High-Speed Rail project and reported the current details, still in the process of a long evolution.
![Conceptual rendering of the California High-Speed Rail project in Pacheco Pass.](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/Pacheco_Low_View_HR.jpg.webp?itok=CmtAzoD4)
Environmental Review Complete for Key Northern California Section of High-Speed Rail Project
The San Jose to Merced Project Section Final Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact Statement could be approved by April 21.
![Train Rendering](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/1024px-Stationinterior.jpg.webp?itok=t4GpmMJ7)
Price Tag Increases Again on High Speed Rail in California
With costs rising from $40 billion to $105 billion, the California High-Speed Rail project is still moving slowly along, though with a heftier price tag.
![San Diego Trolley car](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/San_Diego_Trolley_1065_0.jpg.webp?itok=nRHZcLgu)
Report: San Diego Trolley Extension Cost Double the Average for U.S. Light Rail
Experts attribute the high cost of the project to local opposition and call on state and federal leaders to give transportation agencies more authority over local jurisdictions.
![NYC Subway Construction](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/second%20avenue%20subway%20new%20york.jpg.webp?itok=I22858Gq)
Why Big Infrastructure Projects Go Over Budget
Most major infrastructure projects fail to meet projected timelines or budgets. Some experts say this is a structural flaw built into "systematically deceptive" estimate practices.
![Train Rendering](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/1024px-Stationinterior.jpg.webp?itok=t4GpmMJ7)
California High-Speed Rail Could Benefit From New Federal Funding
If state lawmakers can agree to support matching funds for the project, California's high-speed rail could compete for $36 billion in new federal grants.
![High-Speed Rail](/files/styles/small_400/public/images/anaheim-grade-separation-b_8595402893_o.jpg.webp?itok=7H59ycs-)
California Legislature Stalls on High-Speed Rail, Delays Funding for Other Projects
State legislators' refusal to pass HSR funding will return hundreds of millions slated for active transportation and other projects to the state's general fund.
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