October 20, 2022 - SACRAMENTO, Calif. – As California leads the way on the innovative advancement of clean, sustainable transportation, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) has released its latest Sustainability Report detailing how this first-in-the-nation system serves as the backbone of the state’s ambitious climate goals.

“Sustainability is a core focus as we build the most technologically advanced, electrified and equitable transportation system to support the world’s fifth largest economy,” said Margaret Cederoth, Director of Sustainability and Planning for the Authority. “In pursuing carbon neutral objectives, the Authority has meaningful targets toward which we aim our work. Our goal is to accelerate the delivery of the system’s value for communities, be it through small business participation or the delivery of public spaces in stations designed to revitalize California’s great cities. We’re also dedicated to restorative practices, such as preserving natural resources and valuable habitat.”

Key milestones highlighted in this year’s report include:

• Restoring more than 2,972 acres of habitat and protecting more than 3,190 acres of agricultural land;
• Planting more than 7,100 trees;
• Avoiding or sequestering 420,245 metric tons of carbon dioxide – the equivalent of removing one natural gas-fired power plant from the grid for a year;
• Increasing small business participation to over 700 entities;
• Generating between $12.7 and 13.7 billion in total economic activity in the state, with 56% investment in disadvantaged communities.

The annual report details the Authority’s efforts from January 1 to December 31, 2021, while capturing some data through the first part of 2022.

California’s electrified high-speed rail will be powered by 100% renewable energy. The system will sustainably connect communities and give Californians an unprecedented alternative to vehicle travel. No mode of transportation delivers the speed and quality of trip at the same energy efficiency as high-speed rail.

In the Central Valley, with a population of more than 3 million, high-speed rail will cut travel times by more than half. Passengers can travel from Bakersfield to Merced in 56 minutes via high-speed rail, compared to 2.5 hours by car. A new, multimodal station in Merced will deliver connections to passenger rail services that create seamless travel from Bakersfield to the Bay Area and Sacramento regions. Integrated systems in Bakersfield will enable faster connections to the Los Angeles Basin, the Inland Empire and the rest of Southern California.

A copy of the full 2022 Sustainability Report, including other resources such as fact sheets, can be found at https://hsr.ca.gov/SustainabilityReport.

California high-speed rail is currently under construction along 119 miles in California’s Central Valley at 35 active job sites. To date, nearly 9,000 construction jobs have been created since the start of construction. For more visit: www.buildhsr.com.
Source: CA. HSR