Governor Schwarzenegger Submits California’s Application for $4.7 Billion in High-Speed Rail Recovery Act Funding

SACRAMENTO /California Newswire/ — Joined by federal, state and local officials in united support, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced his submission of the state’s application for nearly $4.7 billion in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery 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 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.

Find background materials and broadcast-quality video simulations of California’s high-speed train at: www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/