FRESNO— The California High-Speed Rail Authority on Tuesday joined hundreds of supporters and government, student, community, transportation, business and labor leaders to break ground on the nation’s first high-speed rail system.
“What is important is the connection that we are rooted in our forebears and we are committed and linked to our descendants,” said Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. at a ceremony, which was held at the site of the future high-speed rail station in downtown Fresno. “The high-speed rail links us from the past to the future, from the south to Fresno and north; this is truly a California project bringing us together today.”
In addition to the support of federal, state and local dignitaries, there was strong backing from Central Valley and California-based construction crews, small businesses, and local students who were eager to highlight how high-speed rail is positively affecting California today and will continue to into the future.
“We now enter a period of sustained construction on the nation’s first high-speed rail system — for the next five years in the Central Valley and for a decade after that across California,” said High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors Chairman Dan Richard. “This is an investment that will forever improve the way Californians commute, travel, and live. And today is also a celebration of the renewed spirit that built California.”
The ceremony included remarks from owners of a family-owned steel manufacturer already benefiting from high-speed rail construction. Student leaders from Fresno State and University of California, Merced also explained how high-speed rail is creating new local opportunities.
Tuesday was the official groundbreaking ceremony, but the event also showcased ground that has already been broken in the Central Valley. The Authority provided tours of nearby construction activity, including various demolition sites. Other achievements to date include finalization of project designs, ongoing right-of-way purchases, and workforce training and mobilization.
Local and statewide small businesses are completing a majority of this work. As of September 2014, 40 small businesses have active contracts valued at $296 million on Construction Package 1, a 29-mile stretch from Avenue 17 in Madera County to East American Avenue in Fresno County. This phase of construction includes 12 grade separations, two viaducts, a tunnel, and a bridge over the San Joaquin River. California-based Tutor Perini Zachry/Parsons (TPZP), A Joint Venture, is designing and building this first phase of the project.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority is responsible for the planning, designing, building and operation of the first high-speed rail system in the nation. By 2029, it is projected that the system will run from San Francisco to the Los Angeles basin in under three hours at speeds capable of over 200 miles per hour. The Palmdale to Burbank project section proposes to connect the Antelope Valley to the San Fernando Valley by traveling from the Palmdale Transportation Center to the Burbank Airport Station. The system will eventually extend to Sacramento and San Diego, totaling 800 miles with up to 24 stations.
Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford has firmly supported the project and was the featured speaker at two US high speed rail conferences last year. The California High-Speed Rail “will help revive our economy and manufacturing sector by creating millions of new jobs,” Ledford stated in a city news release.
–
Previous related stories:
Palmdale mayor to speak at US high speed rail conference
CA High-Speed Rail Authority releases ‘better, faster, cheaper’ plan
High-Speed Rail Board selects route through Antelope Valley
Study favors Antelope Valley alignment for High-Speed Rail
Jason Zink says
http://www.grassrootsthefilm.com/about/
If you like political comedy movie about grassroots and monorail future watch this you’ll like it. Ties into this story, it’s one of my favorites.
William says
For those of you concerned about earthquakes and the HSR, don’t you recall that the BART tunnel under San Francisco Bay survived the Loma Prieta earthquake while the Bay Bridge collapsed as well the triple decker freeway in Oakland?
If you prefer driving, don’t you recall the collapse of the SR 14 overpass to the I-5 during the Northridge quake.
I’m pretty sure that the builders of the HSR have taken earthquakes into consideration.
Sounds like you’re trying to come up with anything, anything to throw at the wall to see what sticks.
Progress says
If it were up to some, we would not have freeways and state water projects. The desert oasis of the Antelope Valley would not exist in its present form except for government infrastructure projects. The same arguements against progress were made in the past. Arguements against Interstate 5 were made by some; could you imagine life withiut it now? This project is a fantastic investement in future transportation. A vote against the train is a vote for traffic congestion. Years ago, General Motors intentionally killed mass transit in Los Angeles County, sold us busses, cars and miles of concrete superhighways. The personal car model does not work anymore, there are too many drivers and cars clooging the roads. We need alternatives. The population is only growing and no widening of the freeway will be enough to accomodate future growth. We need safe, reliable, public, modern, mass trasportation; the train will be awesome. If nothing else, it will put more construction workers, mechanics, operators, customer service reps, security guards and more to work.
John says
Mass transit will only work if we take personal vehicles from the average Joe.
Until the people can only afford bicycles and public transportation then only the tree hugging, no carbon footprint, save the planet from climate change snob will ride this train.
I will be the first to dub this the Train to Nowhere.
Greg says
Tell the East Coast commuters that opinion.
William says
Aren’t you a little late, John? The HSR has been in the planning for years and construction has started.
What is the purpose of your complaints now?
sandi nieves says
Great 15 years? And its going to be done when most of us who wanted it will be too old to walk or dead!
No one wants to go to Fresno to the corn stalks or hay bales
We wanted a train to Vegas and reno where the jobs already are…..out of the tax greedy state of california !!!!!
What a pointless tax payer waste that no one will ride!!!!!!
John says
The only way to get people to ride this train is to make it much more expensive to own and/or drive a car.
REM says
Who wants to go over 200 mph on a track through the San Andreas fault? Not me! Automated cars will be the thing when this finally gets built and the bullet train will be considered an antiquated eye sore and a massive pile of money that should have went to something else.
bird says
California’s infrastructure is crumbling. High hazard dams; drinking water infrastructure is failing; hazardous waste (98) are on National Priorities list; thousands of bridges structurally deficient; 34% of major roads in poor condition. A well designed and maintained infrastructure anchors our economy and secures our quality of life, and California doesn’t have this. It’s kind of like the BLVD., a little band aid on a big sore. Only this band aid is very expensive. This project leaves a lot of room for corruption.
bird says
big vision projects need to be clear and executable. What about the people along every inch of this project, that are going to want a say in this matter? What about cost overruns and all the money that will be siphoned into the black hole, where no one knows where the money goes? Then there are the earthquakes; have they factored that in? California is car-centric, and it’s hard to change peoples minds.
Jason Zink says
http://simpsons.wikia.com/wiki/Springfield_Monorail
Grace says
Frist the Antelope Valley needs new tracks for the Metro Link Service we have.
Using the old tracks is what slows down the trains.
Jason Zink says
We need a High Speed Airline Network Service System through out California State connecting our state regions not an old train technology system. That’s what I would have as my first Bill if I was running for Knight’s vacant Senator seat. And build the new planes in Aerospace Valley to create local and new high paying jobs in California.
Jason Zink says
Would rather fly to S.F. in an hour. Less chances of accidents and from extreme Islam terrorist and being stuck in Fresno. Local leaders failed us in AV again, we couldn’t even get a piece of the $ action to manufacture bolts, etc… for it – to create local jobs.
Thanks AV Leaders!
Birdman says
To fly to S.F. from the A.V. takes an hour to two hour drive to either Burbank, Ontario, or LAX. Then it takes another hour to an hour and a half to board the plane with all the xrays, body screens, and security precautions. It takes about an hour to fly. Then you land and it takes another 30 minutes to an hour to get off the tarmac and get your luggage. Then you have to rent a car or take public transportation just like you would with the train. The train will run on electricity and electricity provided by renewables so it will be cleaner than flying. It will be a competitive option with flying and that will help the consumer.
Greg says
Airport trip from Antelope Valley to San Francisco:
1 hour drive, tip to arrive one hour before boarding: 2 hours
1 hour flight, disembark and wait for plane to unload luggage and then retrieve luggage (assuming larger than normal carry on allowed).
Train (once completed from Antelope Valley to San Francisco:
15 minute drive on average, arrival with 15-30 mins before boarding
2.5 hour train trip (guess, could be less), walk off train with luggage (larger carry ons allowed unless they are doing something strange).
So in reality the time spent is about the same. Pollution should be higher for the plane/car trip than the train/car trip. Convenience is much higher for the train trip in my opinion, opinions vary.
M13 says
You’re missing one big point, the express train that takes two and a half hours leaves only from Union Station in Los Angeles. If you catch the train in the Antelope Valley the ride will make many stops before it arrives in San Francisco. The trip will take 4 to 5 hours. so all in all, driving to Burbank Airport catching a plane and arriving at San Francisco Airport would be faster or as fast as catching the train in the Antelope Valley.
William says
What if some people, other than you, prefer a leisurely train ride than the hassle of driving to Burbank or LAX and the hassle at the airport only to be wedged into a teen tiny airplane seat and all the other issues airline passengers have complained about for year?
You fly and others with take the HSR. Some will drive and others will take a bus.
Do you really care if a HSR paasenger gets there after you do?
Greg says
I am curious, where did you find the information about express only leaving from LA?
William says
@Jason Zink
At an earlier time, you would have criticized those dang ‘flying machines’ and done the same with ‘talking’ movies.
M13 says
That’s a totally bogus statement. The state of California didn’t pay 68 billion dollars for flying machine or movie theaters. Stick to the point.
William says
“Since 2002, in California alone, the airlines received approximately $487 million in state and local subsidies that included tax exemptions and low-interest bond financing. For example, the airlines are exempt from state sales taxes on jet fuel purchases for some flights. This exemption for international flights will cost the state and local governments more than $800 million from fiscal year 2005 to 2009. Despite this, the airlines still want to expand the exemption for out-of-state domestic flights.” from the Consumer Traveler
And, that’s for airlines/airports already built. The HSR is being built from the ground up.
I wonder if Zink opposed the interstate highway system and the California Aquaduct too. And Hoover Dam.
Jason Zink says
Well then you make a good point – subsidizes Palmdale Airport and fly to San Francisco in an hour starting tomorrow or wait a decade”s” for a train that takes hours. SMART MAN – hope I live long enough to ride the train – state only has $13 billion in bank to build $68 billion cost???? O those subsidizes, it takes smart local leaders to get them – so i’ll be 6 ft under as you will be @William waiting.
Jason says
Will the huge cost overruns, higher ticket prices, lower rider numbers, high maintenance costs, etc outweigh what ever “benefits” this train is supposedly going to offer?
William says
Fortunately, you aren’t in charge of anything important.
Jason says
For someone who complains about how much Brown had to fix, you sure aren’t afraid to compliment him for doing the same exact thing so he could leave a “legacy”. But hey what’s $70+ Billion down the drain and $100+ million a year in cost to the taxpayers when we can build a train that we were lied to about.
William says
@Jason
Hey, it’s being built.
You are just spittin’ in the wind at this point.
Did you ever go to any of the hearings and voice your opposition?
Williak says
It’s called ‘American Exceptionalism’.
please says
Please Jason, William just looks for someone to bicker with; move on. You already know a conversation with him leads nowhere.
William says
@please
Where did you come from?
Well, go back.
Eric says
The High-Speed Rail is the Antelope Valley’s answer to Springfield’s Monorail.
Jason Zink says
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marge_vs._the_Monorai
Lol, lt’s true love that cartoon – just another way for politicans to make money and their buddies. Look it up….I trust Marge Simpson don’t U!!!!
Eric says
Unfortunately, no amount of song and dance will make this go away.
Much like Marge, we’ll be forced to watch in horror as the project continues.
Jason Zink says
http://simpsons.wikia.com/wiki/Springfield_Monorail
Willis Newton says
Transformative effect? Sure, how many people in antelope valley need to travel to burbank and what happens when you get there? Public transportation and transfers to get where you need to go once you get there? Might as well drive my car. This thing is stupid.
Greg says
The same thing could be said about planes since this train is comparable for that trip when it is done. How many people need to travel to Frisco and what happens when you get there? Public transportation and transfers to get where you need to go once you get there?
But that may be thinking out of your own wallet and methods of getting around. A person that has planned ahead might have a rental car or limo service waiting for them. Some folks do not mind a short jaunt on the ol’ BART or Metro systems. Yes we could all drive ourselves, but if this costs less, pollutes less and is faster then it could be a better choice. Part of the equation is also about traffic congestion. There will always be more people, meaning more cars. How many mountains do you want to flatten so that all those drivers can sit bumper to bumper in coming years?
Time will tell, and by the time it is completed many of us will no longer exist anyway, so we won’t miss the money.
bird says
I’ll be levitating by then.
William says
The HSR wasn’t designed for you personally to take you from your front door to whevever it is you want to go. There are millions of other people who will find it usefull.
M13 says
I cannot drive down a city street without hitting a pothole, but this is going to have a “transformative effect” on the Antelope Valley? Fix what is broken, then worry about upgrading to what we may need.
Nikolas Malechikos says
Voted YES on this bond measure years ago and STILL stand behind the project.
This HSR will have a transformative effect on our State and the Antelope Valley in particular.