The major stakeholders in California High-Speed Rail Policy include local governments, transit agencies, economic development corporation, legislative staff, universities, voters, and other organizations that have significant in the policy formulation and implementation process. California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) is responsible for development of the plan for the high-speed railway in California (CHSRA, 2013). Inspired by the success of high-speed train system worldwide, the Authority saw the need to embark on a similar program to plan and implement a project that could help meet the growing need for transportation infrastructure. The authority is also responsible for conducting feasibility and environmental study before implementing the project.
The Federal Rail Road Administration is also another is responsible for conducting environmental reviews as well as funding and budgeting for the project. Other nongovernmental organization including Reason Foundation, Citizens Against Government Waste, and Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association play a significant role in checking government expenditure in the whole process. They argue that the final cost of completing the system is significantly higher than the original estimate made by CHSRA (CHSRA, 2013). Californian voters must also vote in support of the state’s proposed high-speed rail project. According to a recent poll, the number of voters supporting the project has significantly reduced due to the change in the original cost of the project.
Who will benefit from this project and why
With the population of California projected to grow by 20 million within the next 40 years, constructing the high-speed rail will significantly reduce congestion in major cities. The state currently experiences a loss of $18.7 billion annual because of congestion (Dayton, 2013). Construction of the high-speed railway will enhance the movement of people, goods, and services. Currently, the short-haul air travel market is the most crowded, which means that introducing the high-speed rail transport will help ease the congestion in the states and reactivate economic activities related to transportation (CHSRA, 2013). In addition, initial construction and maintenance of the railway line will offer employment opportunities to the locals to the area that is already densely populated. Construction of the railway line will offer more than 100,000 construction-related jobs annually. Commuters using Caltrain and Metrolink will also benefit from speed, safety and reliability improvements.
The project will also come with environmental benefits. Since the electric energy used in the trains will be produced through sustainable and renewable sources of energy, such as solar and wind, this system will significantly reduce smog and air pollution throughout the state. This will subsequently improve the quality of air. The local communities will also benefit from convenience of travel connection to local public transportation. Additionally, development of the project will revitalize economic development among local communities around the new transportation terminals.
Project plan
Currently, funds are available for the completion of 209 km initial segment from Fresno to Bakersfield by 2017. The 2012 Revised Business Plan projects completion of the following railway segments on condition of availability of funds.
- Completion of electric railway line between Bakersfield and Palmdale, and Merced and Fresno by 2021. The plans stipulates that the electrified trains will follow more direct route owing to their ability to climb steeper grades.
- The railway line between San Jose and Merced that would ran between Francisco will be complete by 2026.
- The railway line between San Francisco and San Jose, and Palmdale and Los Angeles will be complete by 2028.
However CHSRA have not given dates for the final completion of phase 1 segment (Los Angeles–Anaheim), and for phase 2 (Los Angeles–San Diego and Merced–Sacramento).
References:
CHSRA. (2013). Planning and Construction Stages. Retrieved from http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/planning_construction.aspx
CHSRA. (2013). Project Sections. Retrieved from http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/library.aspx
Dayton, K. (2013, March 14). California’s Joint Legislative Audit Committee Rejects Proposed Audit of California High-Speed Rail Project. Dayton Public Policy Institute. Retrieved from http://laborissuessolutions.com/tag/our-train-young-voters-for-california-high-speed-rail/
Federal Railroad Administration. (2013). California High Speed Train - Bay Area to Central Valley. Retrieved from http://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0229
Reisman, W. (2013, March 20). California voter's supports for high-speed rail is slipping. The Examiner. Retrieved from http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/transportation/2013/03/california-voters-supports-high-speed-rail-slipping
