Governor submits California’s application for $4.7 billion for HSR

Joined by federal, state and local officials in united support, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger discussed his submission of the state's application for nearly $4.7 billion in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for engineering, design and construction on California's high-speed train system. Pledging a dollar-for-dollar match from state and local funds, including the high-speed rail bond passed by California voters in November 2008, the state's application would generate a nearly $10 billion investment. This funding would collectively create nearly 130,000 jobs throughout California.

"Recovery Act funding for high-speed rail will go
further and create more jobs in California than in any other state in the
nation – because we have pledged to match it dollar-for-dollar," said Governor
Schwarzenegger. "Labor, business, environmental and government leaders across
the state are united in support of this historic proposal because it would lay
the foundation for California’s 21st century transportation system, create
nearly 130,000 jobs and improve our mobility, quality of life and environment."

California is proposing the only true high-speed
train capable of 200-plus miles per hour and is further along in planning than
any other similar project in the nation. Planning and engineering work for
California’s 800-mile system has been ongoing for more than 13 years.

California voters approved Proposition 1A, the $9.95-million
high-speed rail bond, in November 2008. In August 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger
signed AB 3034 <http://gov.ca.gov/index.php?/press-release/10459/> replacing Proposition 1 with Proposition 1A on
the November 2008 ballot. The measure improved the High-Speed Train Bond Act by
providing increased taxpayer protections and fiscal controls. The Governor’s
signing of this measure also assured public-private partnership financing for
high-speed rail and limited the amount of bond funding that can be spent on non-construction
items.

California’s application for nearly $4.7 Billion in
high-speed rail Recovery Act funding includes:

• $2.18 billion for Los Angeles to Anaheim,
including high-speed train facilities at Los Angeles Union Station, Norwalk Station
and the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center; right-of-way
acquisition, grade-separations, utility relocation, environmental mitigation,
earthwork, guideway structures, tunneling, and track work. Total jobs created:
53,700.

• $980 million for San Francisco to San Jose,
including station improvements, grade separations, electrification and safety
state-of-the-art "positive train control" in an upgraded, shared
alignment with Caltrain. Total jobs created: 34,200.

• $466 million for Merced to Fresno, including
right-of-way acquisition, grade-separations, utility relocation, environmental
mitigation, earthwork, guideway structures and track. Total jobs created:
10,500.

• $819.5 million for Fresno to Bakersfield, including
right-of-way acquisition, grade-separations, utility relocation, environmental
mitigation, earthwork, guideway structures, track relocation and new track. Total
jobs created: 16,500.

• $276.5 million for preliminary engineering and
environmental work in all system segments including Los Angeles to San Diego
via the Inland Empire, Los Angeles to Palmdale and Bakersfield, Sacramento to
Merced and the Altamont Rail Corridor. Total jobs created: 12,000.