On Thursday, August 9, the House Subcommittee on Railroads, held a Hearing on “The California High-Speed Rail Project” in Sacramento. Subcommittee Chair Congressman Jeff Denham called this hearing to reinforce the significance of “America’s Largest Infrastructure Project”.
USHSR vice president Joe Shelhorse said, “it was a great event in a packed hearing room.”
Calvin Scovell, inspector general, USDOT praised the mutually beneficial working relationships between the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the California High Speed Rail Authority.
Brian Kelly, CEO, California High Speed Rail Authority noted that this is by far the most transformative project of his transportation career with unsurpassed mobility, environmental, and economic benefits.
Louis Thompson, chairman, California High-Speed Rail Peer Review Group discussed the Authority’s strategy of expediting two usable segments with the available funds.
These segments include the Central Valley Corridor between Merced and Bakersfield and the Caltrain Corridor between San Francisco and Gilroy via the Silicon Valley. A California-based tunneling symposium taking place later this year will attract High-Speed Rail Tunneling experts from around the world to provide guidance on expediting tunneling through Pacheco Pass and beneath the Tehachapi and San Gabriel Mountains.
Robbie Hunter, president, California Building and Construction Trades Council discussed his own experiences riding High-Speed Trains in Germany speeding past Autobahn drivers with rides that were so smooth that full glasses of water showed no signs of movement.
Congressman Doug LaMalfa reinforced the importance of meeting and exceeding the project milestones to encourage private sector investment worldwide.
Congressman Alan Lowenthal emphasized connecting rail, and station investments in Los Angeles — the state’s largest population center — while construction progresses to the north.
Congressman Mark DeSaulner said, “now more than ever, California needs a state-of-the-art passenger rail system” as congestion has increased significantly since voters approved Proposition 1A ten years ago.
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren highlighted Google’s plans for constructing a campus for thousands of employees within walking distance of Diridon Station.
Congressman John Garamendi encouraged examining the benefits of a “complete transportation system” with High-Speed Rail providing the backbone toward congestion relief at airports and along roadways.
