California High-Speed Rail

Amtrak Coast Starlight passenger train passing over bridge in Altamont Pass, California.

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.

November 4, 2024 - The Modesto Bee

Aerial view of Wasco viaduct built for California HIgh-Speed Rail project.

50,000 California State Fairgoers Visit High-Speed Rail Exhibit

An interactive exhibit offered visitors a glimpse into the future rail system.

August 2, 2024 - Newsweek

Historic red tile roofed train depot in Fresno, California.

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.

July 4, 2024 - Fast Company

Rendering of station for California High-Speed Rail train

California High-Speed Rail Gains Final Approval

The last segment between Palmdale and Burbank will be one of the most challenging to build.

July 2, 2024 - Sfist

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.

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.

January 10, 2024 - CALmatters

Close-up of 'To Trains' sign above blurred train platform in Washington, D.C.

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.

December 11, 2023 - Mass Transit

Rendering of California high-speed rail train viaduct with arches

Tracking U.S. ‘Higher-Speed’ Rail Progress

Five projects are moving the United States forward on so-called “higher-speed” rail.

September 5, 2023 - The Washington Post

Nighttime view of the last Southern Pacific Lark overnight train leaving Los Angeles Union Station on April 8, 1968

Startup Proposes L.A.-to-San Francisco Night Train

The privately operated train would use existing tracks to provide overnight service.

April 21, 2023 - SFGate

Rendering of California high-speed rail train viaduct with arches

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.

April 7, 2023 - The Fresno Bee

Rendering of station for California High-Speed Rail train

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.

April 5, 2023 - Foster + Partners

High-Speed Rail

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.

August 31, 2022 - California Globe

Bakersfield and Fresno Sign

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.

July 5, 2022 - Sfist

A conceptual rendering of three high-speed rail trains. The middle train is orange; the other two are black.

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.

May 22, 2022 - Eric Carlson

Construction fo the California High-Speed Rail project is shown running parallel to Highway 99 in California's Central Valley.

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.

March 17, 2022 - The New York Times

Conceptual rendering of the California High-Speed Rail project in Pacheco Pass.

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.

March 1, 2022 - California High-Speed Rail Authority

Train Rendering

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.

February 14, 2022 - Roads and Bridges

San Diego Trolley car

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.

January 24, 2022 - San Diego Union-Tribune

NYC Subway Construction

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.

December 2, 2021 - The New York Times

Train Rendering

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.

November 11, 2021 - Streetsblog California

High-Speed Rail

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.

September 20, 2021 - Streetsblog California

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