Newsletter 1/10/25: California HSR Update and Federal Grants

Two Major Updates on California’s High-Speed Rail Network

The Railhead Project

This week, the California High Speed Rail Authority kicked off the Railhead Project in Kern County in preparation for track laying work in the Central Valley. The Authority also released a timeline for selecting the contractor for track and overhead contact system construction on the 171 mile Early Operating Segment from Merced to Bakersfield, and that construction could begin later this year.

A New Visionary State Rail Plan 

The 2024 California State Rail Plan was released on January 7 and it bolsters California’s track record as the model for all other states to follow. Most states have a rail plan that is essentially a wishlist of projects. But California’s plan begins with the big-picture view looking forward to 2050 and then provides the framework for reaching that goal starting with the highest impact projects.

Keep an eye on our weekly newsletter as we plan to break down the importance of this rail plan in future editions.

Read More:

2024 California State Rail Plan

California’s High-Speed Rail Program Celebrates Progress and Highlights Next Steps Towards Operations

Why California’s Integrated Rail Plan is Unique

California map showing a statewide network of rail corridors to electrify by 2050.

The Big Takeaway From 60 Years of Shinkansen Trains

One of the Alliance’s top objectives is to help get one high-speed line running in North America in this decade. Two lines are now under construction: one in California’s Central Valley and one from Las Vegas to the outskirts of Los Angeles. Japan’s example demonstrates what a difference it will make to have one line actually up and running.

At the Alliance’s annual luncheon in Chicago this week, Naohisa Kitada discussed lessons from that story. Kitada is the general manager of the Washington, D.C., office of Central Japan Railway (JR Central), which owns and operates Japan’s Tokyo – Osaka Tokaido Shinkansen.

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FRA Announces Funding for Projects Under Two Grant Programs

Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program

The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded more than $1.1 billion to 123 rail projects under the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program. The funding will go towards improving or studying over 1,000 highway-rail crossings across the country. This is the largest single investment in grade crossing safety in FRA’s history.

Restoration and Enhancement Grant Program

The FRA also announced more than $146 million in funding to strengthen intercity passenger rail service on six routes through the Restoration and Enhancement Grant Program. The services receiving funding under this grant include:

  • California’s Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service on the LOSSAN Corridor from Los Angeles to San Diego, CA ($27.1 million)
  • Connecticut’s CTrail Hartford Line service from New Haven, CT, to Springfield, MA ($11.6 million)
  • Brightline’s Florida service from Miami to Orlando ($33.8 million)
  • Amtrak’s Gulf Coast service from New Orleans, LA, to Mobile, AL ($21.1 million)
  • North Carolina’s Amtrak Piedmont service from Charlotte to Raleigh, NC ($14 million)
  • Amtrak’s Borealis service from Chicago, IL, to Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN ($38.6 million)

The FRA has now invested $48.5 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding in more than 445 rail projects across the country, and in Amtrak.

Read More:

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $1.1 Billion in New Rail Grants to Reduce Train-Vehicle Collisions and Blocked Railroad Crossings

Restoration & Enhancement Grant Program Selections: Project Summaries

Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program Selections: Project Summaries

HSRA Staff Update

Japan Central Railways wants to bring its Shinkansen bullet-train technology to the United States. On Tuesday at a High Speed Rail Alliance event in Chicago, Naohisa Kitada, a company executive based in Washington, shared more about the technology and its many advantages.

Thank you to our sponsors for this event: Synnov Group, DePaul University’s Chaddick Institute, and SMART-TD. These photos show some of their representatives, as well as several Chicago-based members of the HSRA board of directors.

It was a great time getting together with fellow high-speed rail advocates!

collage of swag items

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Fixing Chicago Union Station

When: Friday, January 24 at 12pm CT

Join us to learn about the five essential fixes needed to remake Union Station into the hub for a modern rail network and a powerful engine of the region’s economy. Amtrak and the State of Illinois are planning important improvements to the station, but some additional work will allow the station to reach its full potential.

A map outlining Virginia's 2022 state rail plan

Virginia Passenger Rail Authority: How Crippling Traffic Led One State to Find Its Own Transportation Solutions

When: Friday, February 7 at 12pm CT

DJ Stadtler, Executive Director of the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, will share how Virginia, seeking relief from what had become an “all day rush hour,” turned to rail and found new ways to expand service across the state.

OBB Night Train First Class Interior

Overnight Sleeper Trains’ Role in America’s Transportation Infrastructure

When: Friday, February 14 at 12pm CT

Dreamstar Lines is reimagining the overnight train experience, blending the nostalgia and romance of classic rail journeys with modern comfort and convenience. This presentation will explore Dreamstar’s vision for a new standard in U.S. night trains, addressing gaps left by current inter-regional services and offering a compelling alternative to air and car travel.

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