L.A. County Supervisor and metro board chair Don Knabe, says “Metro looks forward to working closely with the High-Speed Rail Authority to make the kind of investments that will be beneficial to both agencies as we build a 21^st Century transportation network that will give L.A. County travelers a welcome alternative to traffic and rising gas prices.”

The design and environmental impact review process being undertaken by the CHSRA is still underway. Design and environmental engineering teams have been engaged since 2007 with local communities and transportation agencies to design three segments in Southern California: Palmdale-Los Angeles, Los Angeles-Anaheim, and Los Angeles-San Diego, via the Inland Empire. That process is still underway, with Environmental Impact Reports yet to be released.

“This infusion of funds in Southern California is an exciting reminder of the benefits the high-speed rail project provides, even before construction is complete,” says Tom Umberg, vice chairman of the CHSRA board. “In addition to creating a safe, efficient and fast alternative for travel within our state, we expect to create 600,000 construction-related jobs over the life of the project, and 450,000 new, permanent jobs once the entire system is built. There’s no question HSR will turn this initial investment into immediate benefits for the region and for the state.”

The California High-Speed Rail Authority is developing an 800-mile high-speed train system that will operate at speeds of up to 220 miles per hour, connecting the state’s urban centers, including the Bay Area, Fresno, Los Angeles and San Diego. The first phase of the project, projected to cost about $43 billion, will begin operation once the first operable segment—150-200 miles—is built, connecting the system to at least one major metropolitan center. The project is being funded through a voter-approved bond, public-private partnerships and federal grants.

California has already secured more than $3 billion in federal funding, the most of any state in the nation and a welcome step toward a long-term federal commitment. This incorporates grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, as well as federal grants from other sources. Matched with varying levels of state funds, these dollars mean that more than $5.5 billion total is available to begin work on California’s high-speed rail system.

The federal grant agreement and other documents outlining the ARRA funds are available on the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s website. Another grant agreement pertaining to the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program FY 2010 funds, also to be directed to the Central Valley, is forthcoming.