High Speed for California
Posted by Lou on Apr 16, 2009
Major Cities: San Francisco Bay Area (San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland), Sacramento, Merced, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Diego
Overview: California is pursuing continued improvements to existing passenger rail corridor services and a new high-speed rail (HSR) system. Since the 1980s, the State of California and Amtrak have made significant investments in equipment and facilities to develop three passenger rail corridor services: the San Joaquins (Bay Area/Sacramento–Central Valley, with bus connections to L.A.); Capitols (San Jose–Oakland–Sacramento–Auburn); and Pacific Surfliners (San Luis Obispo–L.A.–San Diego). In 2008, total intercity ridership on California’s State-supported corridor trains–at 5.5 million–accounted for one fifth of Amtrak’s passenger-trips nationwide. A strategic plan was prepared for improvement of the Pacific Surfliner Corridor from Los Angles to San Diego eventually to speeds of up to 110 mph.
New HSR System: California is developing a new, electrically powered, HSR system of 800 miles serving major population centers from San Francisco and Sacramento to Los Angeles and San Diego. Such a system would operate at sustained speeds of 220 mph over much of its length on dedicated rights of way except for access to certain urban areas (e.g. San Jose – San Francisco.) Phase 1 involves San Francisco to Los Angeles and Anaheim.
Status: The HSR Programmatic (Tier 1) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is complete. Site-specific EIS and preliminary engineering is underway for Phase 1. Also, a Tier I EIS has also been completed for conventional improvements to the Los Angeles to San Diego Pacific Surfliner corridor. An EIS and preliminary engineering are in an advanced stage for run-through tracks at L.A. Union Station to enhance Pacific Surfliner service. More information about environmental review processes is is available at the current environmental reviews page .
Source: Federal Railroad Administration
U.S. High Speed Passenger Trains
Posted by Lou on Apr 16, 2009
Federal Railroad Administration’s Official Press Release for the High Speed Passenger Trains
Thursday, April 16, 2009 (Washington, DC) President Obama, Vice President Biden, Secretary LaHood Call for U.S. High Speed Passenger Trains
Vision for a New Era in Rail Entails Clean, Energy-Efficient Option for Travelers President Barack Obama, along with Vice President Biden and Secretary LaHood, announced a new U.S. push today to transform travel in America, creating high-speed rail lines from city to city, reducing dependence on cars and planes and spurring economic development.
The President released a strategic plan outlining his vision for high speed rail in America. The plan identifies $8 billion provided in the ARRA and $1 billion a year for five years requested in the federal budget as a down payment to jump-start a potential world-class passenger rail system and sets the direction of transportation policy for the future. The strategic plan will be followed by detailed guidance for state and local applicants. By late summer, the Federal Railroad Administration will begin awarding the first round of grants.
