NEWS RELEASE: Clean, Green High-Speed Rail Helping California Lead the Way this Earth Day

April 22, 2024

SACRAMENTO, Calif. –In the spirit of California’s leadership on climate and sustainability, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority), along with the Newsom administration and transportation partners, is recognizing Earth Day by highlighting continued progress in advancing the cleanest and greenest transportation system in the country.

“Every day, thousands are working to deliver the largest and greenest infrastructure project in the nation.  We are proud of our work to bring a truly high-speed rail system, certified at speeds of over 200 mph that is powered by 100% renewable energy. As a part of that process, we have been advancing design for net-energy positive, resilient stations, the nation’s first high-speed rail stations, in California’s Central Valley.”

-Margaret Cederoth, Director of Planning and Sustainability, California High-Speed Rail Authority

As the project advances and stations start construction, the implementation of these sustainability strategies is aligned with California’s overall climate goals, driving down planet-warming pollution, keeping harmful particulates out of the air in communities with historic poor air quality, and transforming our transportation system into a sustainable community connector. View the Authority’s 2023 Sustainability Report for more information.

Economic Development and Governance	62% of project investment occurred in disadvantaged communities in FY 2021-2022. More than 13,000 good-paying construction jobs created in the Central Valley. 166% growth in the number of small businesses working on the project since 2015.
Energy and Emissions	Commitment to 100% renewable energy for operation through solar generation. Designing net-positive energy stations to produce more energy than they consume.
Natural Resources	Preserved and restored more than 4,400 acres of habitat and conserved more than 3,190 acres of agricultural land. 12% decrease in construction water use, compared to 2021, despite a 38 percent increase in construction activity levels.
Sustainable Infrastructure	Integrating sustainability into project development and operations. 95% of construction waste recycled or diverted from landfills in 2022.
Station Communities and Ridership	Collaborating with station communities to ensure community-oriented station design. Our stations will be seamlessly integrated with a range of transportation modes, from bicycles and scooters to buses and cars, as well as with the pedestrian pathways and rail systems.

The Authority has begun work to extend the 119 miles currently under construction to 171 miles of future electrified high-speed rail from Merced to Bakersfield. There are currently more than 25 active construction sites in the Valley, with the Authority having also fully environmentally cleared 422 miles of the high-speed rail program from the Bay Area to Los Angeles County. For the latest on high-speed rail construction, visit www.buildhsr.com.

The button below links to recent video, animations, photography, press center resources and latest renderings. Files are all available for free use, courtesy of the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

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