Chicago Union Station needs a new entrance at Van Buren StreetAmtrak's plans for accessing the rebuilt mail platform is on the wrong track It is not too late for the State of Illinois to insist on a direct entrance. The City and State have a huge opportunity to grow...
Newsletter 9/12/25: California Assembly Doubles Down on High-Speed Rail
California Assembly doubles down on high-speed rail
The California State Assembly has guaranteed $1 billion annually, through 2045, for the state’s high-speed line from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The move “demonstrates that Californians are standing up to the Trump Administration’s backward thinking obstruction and choosing instead to invest boldly the future,” according to the California High-Speed Rail Authority.
Continue reading
CA High-Speed Rail Authority Issues Supplemental Project Update
After more than a decade of design work, property acquisition, and active construction, the backbone of California’s high-speed rail project in the Central Valley is well underway. Over 15,000 jobs and billions in local economic benefits have been created during construction, and a new report indicates that – when linked to the Bay Area and Southern California – the system could produce large operating surpluses for decades.
Continue reading
Introducing Manager of Outreach & Engagement Jordan Pokorney
Jordan is thrilled to join the HSRA team as our new Manager of Outreach & Engagement. A lifelong train enthusiast and native of rural Minnesota, he has been proud to call Chicago home for the past 11 years. He has worked for a wide variety of nonprofit organizations, including Writers Theatre in Glencoe, Illinois, and Howard Brown Health in Chicago. Most recently, he served as Office Manager & Event Coordinator for Good Chaos, an experimental family office pushing the boundaries of private philanthropy.
Jordan wrote a guest blog post for the Alliance in January about a two-week rail vacation across France and Germany. He looks forward to working with Alliance members and partners to build a rail-forward future, and he hopes to meet as many of you as possible at our upcoming Chicago luncheon event in October.
Luncheon – Averting the Fiscal Cliff: The Road to Regional & High-Speed Rail
When: Friday, October 10, 11am to 3pm CT (Doors open at 10am)
Where: The Collective, 120 S Riverside Plz, Chicago, IL 60606
From the urgent fiscal crisis threatening Chicago-area transit, to the future of Metra and high-speed rail in the Midwest, you will hear directly from leaders addressing today’s most pressing transportation challenges.
All Aboard Ohio’s Rail Advocacy Strategy
When: Friday, September 26 at 11am CT
Speaker: Mitch Radakovich, Board chair, All Aboard Ohio
All Aboard Ohio has grown, leading an ambitious effort in 2025. With statewide chapters and engaging events, the group has enlisted passenger rail advocates in a push to fund expanded passenger rail service within Ohio and to neighboring states, as well as for reentry to the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission. In this talk, you can learn where things stand today, and about All Aboard Ohio’s strategy to take passenger-rail advocacy to a new level.
Accelerating the Permitting Process for High Speed Rail Projects
When: Friday, October 24 at 12pm CT
Speaker: Terry Hynes, Senior Counsel, Sidley
Environmental review and permitting of high-speed rail projects can take many years or even more than a decade. This increases the cost of projects, discourages private investment, and makes the public wait to enjoy the benefits of high-speed trains. In this talk, you can learn about a proposal to designate the Surface Transportation Board as the lead agency for all high-speed rail projects, to accelerate review and permitting.
Canada aims to start Alto high speed rail construction in four years
Amtrak adds extra train car for Mardi Gras Service route during Saints home game weekends
Construction Begins on Xi’an-Shiyan High-Speed Rail Line in China
Rail Europe Says Europe Will Double Its High Speed Trains By 2030
Brightline slashing fares to and from West Palm Beach station
The Latest from HSRA
Our Latest Blog Posts
Check out the latest news, updates, and high speed rail insights from our blog!
