February 9, 2024
Sacramento, California – The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) today released its draft 2024 Business Plan for public review and comment. The draft 2024 Business Plan reaffirms the agency's goal of advancing clean, electrified high-speed rail in California.
The plan also discusses progress on key programs in Northern California, the Central Valley, and Southern California, as well as updates on federal funding, ridership, and construction status. It also maintains costs and schedules from the 2023 project update report released 11 months ago.
Highlights of the 2023 Project Update Report and this draft 2024 Business Plan include:
- The authority has received $3.3 billion in new federal funding to advance work on the initial operating segment between Merced and Bakersfield.
- Officials are in the process of making necessary procurements to move the project from construction to operation, including purchasing electric trains and designing the tracks and systems needed for passenger service.
- The first construction package (CP 4), covering 32.5 miles of the Central Valley, has reached substantial completion.
- The agency completed more than 12,200 construction-related jobs in 2023, setting a record for the number of day laborers on site.
- Design of the four-station extension at Merced, Bakersfield and Central Valley stations is on schedule and meeting 2023 contract milestones.
Following today's release of the draft business plan, the Authority's Board of Directors will review the plan and solicit comments as part of a 60-day public comment period that begins today and ends April 9 at 5 p.m. The authorities offer the following options: To submit a comment:
- Online comment form on the 2024 Draft Business Plan website: https://hsr.ca.gov/2024-draft-business-plan-comment-form/
- Submit by email: BusinessPlan2024@hsr.ca.gov
- Mail to US authorities:
California High Speed Rail Authority
Address: Draft Business Plan 2024
770 L Street, Suite 1180
Sacramento, California 95814 - We will provide public comments at a board meeting held virtually or in-person during a public comment period on February 29, 2024 in Sacramento.
Officials have begun work on extending the 119 miles currently under construction to 171 miles of future electrified high-speed rail from Merced to Bakersfield.
California's Central Valley is home to more than 25 construction sites, and officials also approved a fully green high-speed rail project from the Bay Area to Los Angeles County.
The following link contains recent videos, animations, photos, press center resources, and latest renderings: https://hsra.app.box.com/s/vyvjv9hckwl1dk603ju15u07fdfir2q8
All of these files are free to use, courtesy of the California High Speed Rail Authority.
