Statewide News Major Steps Towards Operations Celebrating Our Engineers I Will Ride Wins Again ICYMI – Small Business Newsletter

Northern California  Collaborating for Tomorrow’s Future Connecting Communities High-Speed Rail Buzz in the Bay Leo Rubio’s Resilient Journey Fast Tracks and Bright Futures

Southern California Already Building a Better Southern California LA Times Highlights Central Valley Progress Flying from Union Station to Dodgers Stadium Conaway Geomatics Grows With High-Speed Rail Have a Question? We’ve Got Answers Mobility 21 Gets HSR Briefing on Legislative Day

FAQs & Upcoming Events Upcoming Events

 

Three Major Steps Towards Central Valley Operations

At the end of February, our Board of Directors held its meeting at the location of the high-speed rail project’s preliminary trainset mockups and early conceptual 3D station models —a special first-time opportunity for the public, no train tickets required! All and all, the meeting was a great success, here’s what some at the Board meeting had to say:

• “The station is the rebirth of Downtown Fresno … It is the focal point of the growth and revitalization of downtown. The economic implications are astounding.” – Authority Board Chairman Tom Richards
• “We talk a lot about the economic impact of the construction, but as we all know the operation of this system will last far longer and the impact, economically, will be seen for decades.” – Anthony Williams, Authority Board Member
• “It’s going to be a game changer for the Valley and for Fresno. I’m thankful we’re going to have the first high-speed station in the nation here in Downtown Fresno.” – Jerry Dyer, Mayor of Fresno
• “Our city has been hard at work preparing for the construction of a world-class high-speed rail station.” – Karen Goh, Mayor of Bakersfield
• “High-Speed Rail staff has done a really fantastic job of keeping us informed and involved in the process.” – Jason Waters, Deputy City Manager, City of Hanford
• “We are excited and in support of the high-speed rail, as well as the expansion of ACE and Amtrak.” – See Lee, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Merced County

At the meeting, the Board took another important step in expanding the 119-miles of active construction in the Central Valley to 171 miles when they voted unanimously to approve a Notice to Proceed for HNTB Corporation to progress the final design of the Fresno to Bakersfield Locally Generated Alternative project section to 100% design and provide construction ready documents. This comes after their approval of a Notice to Proceed for Stantec Consulting to do the same for the Merced to Madera project section in January. The 171-mile stretch between Merced to Bakersfield will provide passenger rail service in the region between 2030-2033.

Additionally, the Board received an overview on progress of the four Central Valley high-speed rail stations from Director of Planning and Sustainability Margaret Cederoth. Excitement was in the air as visitors were able to view models of the future stations in Merced, Fresno and Bakersfield to get a better sense of how these stations will benefit their communities. During her presentation, Director Cederoth covered a wide range of topics, including specifics such as site plans and platform sizing, community outreach and engagement, and unveiled preliminary renderings of the four stations at Merced, Fresno, Kings/Tulare and Bakersfield.

Lastly, the Board members received an update on trainset interior design outreach from Chief of Strategic Communications Melissa Figueroa and Chief of Rail Operations Bruce Armistead. The presentation covered the design process and the various groups who have visited the trainset white mock-ups to provide in-person user feedback. Groups have included representatives from the federal and state government, disability rights groups and students. Feedback from these groups continues to inform the evolution of design concepts which will be finalized as part of the formal design handbook for the trainsets. After the presentation, Board members and the public were invited to take a guided tour of the mock-ups to see the various amenities and ask questions about the designs. Stay tuned for more progress on these as the next steps are taken throughout 2024.

Celebrating High-Speed Rail Engineers

In February, the Authority celebrated Engineers Week from February 18 – February 24. During the week, Authority Senior Transportation Engineer Anna Chrissanthis spoke in Los Angeles with a group of young girls interested in STEM, which you can read about in more detail in the Southern California section of this newsletter. Staff also participated in the Sacramento State Engineering and Computer Science Career Fair, where aspiring engineers were able to speak with Joe Wild, a Senior Transportation Engineer on the project. On social media, the Authority celebrated the over 60 state-employed engineers and the numerous engineers employed by contractors helping make high-speed rail a reality.

The Authority also celebrated World Engineering Day on March 4 with two video features on Dominique RULENS, Deputy Chief of Rail and Operations Delivery, and Gurleen Boparai, a Supervising Transportation Engineer. Both spoke about their careers, inspirations and what they enjoy about working on California High-Speed Rail.

World Engineering Day – Dominique RULENS

World Engineering Day – Gurleen Boparai

I Will Ride Wins Again!

The Authority’s student outreach program, I Will Ride, took home a national honor last month for award-winning student engagement from the American Public Transit Association. The program won 2023’s Best Comprehensive Marketing and Communications Educational Campaign for Workforce Development during the annual AdWheel Awards this week in New Orleans. This comes on the heels of last year when the program won the prestigious Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award from the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) Sacramento chapter. Read more about the award here.

“I Will Ride is about connecting students to information and career opportunities,” said Authority Outreach and Student Engagement Specialist Yaqeline Castro. “With our outreach having steadily increased since the relaunch of the program in 2020, we look forward to continued engagement with the next generation of transportation professionals.”

I Will Ride is a student outreach program at the California High-Speed Rail Authority dedicated to connecting students to information and career opportunities on the nation’s first high-speed rail system currently under construction. Learn more about this program and get on our mailing list.

Fast Facts about I Will Ride in 2023

• Reached 4,479 students throughout California
• Construction and Regional Alignment Tours
• University Capstone Projects
• Classroom and Club Presentations for elementary to university students
• Outreach Tables
• Networking Sessions
• Webinars
• Mentorship

 

ICYMI – Winter 2024 Small Business Newsletter Is Out

In case you missed it, the Authority published the Winter 2024 edition of the Small Business Newsletter! Check out how our small businesses are contributing to high-speed rail across the state!

In this issue, you can learn about a small business owner with public and private sector experience providing right-of-way engineering services, a local small business helping engage Central Valley communities on station design and a young contracting team that’s found opportunities to grow from working on this historic project.

This issue also highlights our Business Outreach Committee, updated small business participation goals and the inaugural “Chardená Shares” column from our new Small Business Advocate. Read the newsletter here.

UPDATES FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Building Tomorrow Together: Collaboration Shapes the Future

In the heart of the Central Valley, amidst a seemingly endless landscape, an unexpected towering bridge emerges above the acres of farmland. Here, you’ll find hundreds of workers tirelessly shaping the structure of rebar and concrete. This juxtaposition of bustling construction amid agricultural farms captures the essence of the future of California, bridging the gap between rural farmlands and the fast-paced life of the city.

On January 23rd, HSR Northern California Regional Director, Boris Lipkin, Deputy Regional Director Morgan Galli, with support from the Central Valley Regional Team and the Planning & Sustainability Team, hosted Executive Director Adam Van de Water and staff from the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA), along with staff from Caltrain on a construction site tour. Our Bay Area partners have been hard at work electrifying the Caltrain Corridor and extending rail service to the Salesforce Transit Center, the northern terminus of the statewide system, in the Peninsula. Being able to see firsthand the infrastructure that will ultimately connect the Central Valley to the Bay Area makes the strides achieved tangible and underscores the transformative progress taking place.

Envisioning a future where the journey from the Bay Area to the Central Valley will be reduced from a four-and-a-half-hour drive to a fraction of the time is undeniably exciting. The transformative possibilities that come with such a substantial reduction in travel time have the potential to seamlessly connect these regions, fostering enhanced collaboration, economic growth and overall regional development.

Touring the Hanford Viaduct, Cedar Viaduct and the Fresno Station, our partners were most impressed by the significant progress achieved thus far in the Central Valley. Excited to see the momentum behind numerous structures completed which will bridge the geographic gap opens doors to a more connected and dynamic future for all of California.

Following the tour, our journey concluded with a comprehensive briefing at the Central Valley Regional Office in Fresno. During the session, Boris Lipkin gave a Statewide update, offering insights into broader statewide developments. Garth Fernandez, Central Valley Regional Director, delivered an update specifically focused on Central Valley Construction and Transportation Planner, Ben Lichty, gave a presentation on the Central Valley Stations to share overall project progress.

TJPA and Caltrain are enthusiastic about the ongoing developments in the Central Valley and the progress that has been accomplished. The momentum propels a shared vision and goal for future connectivity, economic growth and innovation, extending from the Bay Area to the Central Valley and beyond.

Redwood City Lunar New Year: Embracing Our Diverse Tapestry

Amidst the festivities of celebrating The Year of the Dragon at Redwood City’s Lunar New Year festival, residents unite by embracing cultural richness and diversity. The myriad of unique backgrounds and cultures within our community doesn’t just enrich our tapestry; it’s the very essence that makes us stronger, more vibrant and collectively better.

Being an integral part of the community and engaging with the public at special events, such as Lunar New Year, offers the Authority a chance to connect with future riders. This interaction becomes a valuable opportunity to understand the diverse needs of the community and explore ways to craft a more inclusive and embracing project for future generations to come.

With our bilingual outreach team, we engaged with community members in Spanish, Chinese and English cultivating connections that transcend language barriers. Both adults and children expressed their eagerness to discuss high-speed rail and explore trainset interiors through state-of-the-art virtual reality. Surprise reactions like, “220 miles per hour, whoa! That’s fast!” echo through our dynamic interactions, showcasing the diverse curiosity within the community. These moments reinforce our commitment to providing information and fostering understanding about the exciting aspects of high-speed rail.

Diving into the crucial realm of accessibility and its impact on future riders, Cathleen Nivlo, who uses a wheelchair, shares invaluable insights, “I love the fact that these trains are going to be from platform to train with no interference, I can get on by myself without help – which is such a big deal. It’s very hard being disabled and being constantly dependent on someone else. As kind and wonderful as people are, it’s great to be able to go out and say, ‘I’m doing it alone,’ and this gives me the opportunity to do that.”

Natalie Alizaga expressed how high-speed rail will open up career and business options for Bay Area residents, “Having the ability to take a train from Merced to the Bay Area and back would be extremely helpful and save time and money.”

As we journey ahead, fueled by the enriching moments of Redwood City’s Lunar New Year, our commitment strengthens to connect our diverse communities and address their unique needs. Guided by the spirit of inclusivity, we strive to build bridges that foster understanding, unity and shared prosperity across every community we touch.

Excitement for the Future of High-Speed Rail Hits Bay Area

Perhaps Ricardo Cano, San Francisco Chronicle’s Transportation reporter, described the Bay Area’s view of the California High-Speed Rail project best. “[It] can sometimes feel abstract to Bay Area residents…” he wrote. That appears to be changing.

In a sign though that gears outside the Central Valley are shifting from abstract and towards a tangible vision, Cano was among multiple major Bay Area news outlets to focus on the Authority’s momentum on delivering the first true high-speed rail system in California and the country.

Cano shared early train interior design renderings, showcasing its unique vision.

“The goal of our interior design is to create an iconic experience,” said Bruce Armistead, the authority’s chief of rail and operations delivery, who was quoted in the article.

SF Gate also caught the buzz. Travel editor, Sila Valentino wrote, “If the interior specs shared become fully realized, traveling from San Francisco to Los Angeles via train should rival the heyday of air travel, with a luxurious atmosphere and freedom to roam about the cabin.”

Eye-catching designs weren’t the only topic of interest for Bay Area media. A powerhouse in public radio, KQED featured in-depth discussions with their viewers on two popular programs, Political Breakdown and Forum, pointing out how the Authority is pushing beyond past criticisms and challenges.

On the Political Breakdown, transportation reporter, Dan Brekke, and Calmatters Commentary editor, Yousef Baig, shared their insights in an episode titled, “”Train to Nowhere” Is Actually Going Somewhere.”

Baig said he’s cautiously optimistic that high-speed rail service will be operational by the Authority’s timeline estimates, but reiterates, “For this project to actually deliver on what it’s saying to folks, it’s going to need support from Washington D.C. and it’s going to need more political support form leaders in California.”

Brian Kelly, the Authority’s CEO, also sat down for an hour-long conversation with host, Mina Kim, on the Forum to discuss momentum on the project, moving from planning to operations in the Central Valley.

By the end of the conversation, one viewer wrote in, “Let’s build high-speed rail. Why are spending billions on widening highways in California and encouraging people to drive? We are shooting ourselves in the foot.”

If you missed any of this coverage, check out the Bay Area media round up below:

• San Francisco Chronicle: First look inside California’s bullet trains: Designs feature bars, play areas, airplane-like seats
• SF Gate: Calif. bullet train cars will have bar carts and La-Z-Boy-style seats, authority says
• Political Breakdown: Train to Nowhere is Actually Going Somewhere
• Forum: What’s the status of California’s High-Speed Rail Project

Leo Rubio’s Resilient Journey in Transportation Engineering

In the intricate realm of transportation engineering, Leo Rubio assumes the role of a visionary leader, guiding Bennett Engineering Services as the President, Professional Engineer and Chief Executive Officer. Leo’s story isn’t just a story of success; it’s a testament to relentless hard work.

With a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from California State University, Sacramento, Rubio’s professional background spans 12 years at Caltrans, where he served as a Project Manager and Senior Design Engineer. In 2006, Rubio decided to make the transition from the public to private sector. “The clients I was interested in working for all knew me and my work in the public sector, but they also knew I had no experience in the private sector. I had to make many mistakes and learn the hard way until my proposals and understanding of what clients were looking for aligned.”

Prior to Rubio joining Bennett Engineering Services, the firm had a strong reputation in local governments, particularly in water resources engineering services. Rubio’s vision of establishing transportation services necessitated a gradual, project-by-project approach. Rubio’s commitment did not waver. “Once someone gave me the chance to prove myself, I did whatever it took to make sure they were happy with my work, gave me repeat work and vouched for me when I pursued other public agency work,” he said.

Currently serving a subconsultant to O’Dell Engineering, Rubio’s firm specializes in providing right-of-way engineering for the California High-Speed Rail Authority. The prospect of contributing to the nation’s first high-speed rail system has been an exciting endeavor and timely boost for their transportation sector. The volume and consistency have contributed to filling their pipeline, and as Rubio affirms it, “has given us the credibility to pursue work at the state level.” Bennett Engineering Services serves on multiple teams for both Caltrans and the Authority as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE).

In 2022, Bennett Engineering Services was honored with the Employer of the Year award by the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) Sacramento Chapter. Rubio proudly states, “almost half of our workforce are women. Most are engineers in different departments and hold key roles. We are proud of our inclusivity and diversity and of our dedicated staff who make a positive difference in our community.”

Beyond professional endeavors, the firm actively participates in charitable initiatives, providing support for engineering scholarships and engaging in community events. Looking to the future, Rubio envisions a company that remains flexible and thrives in any economic climate, ensuring the well-being of their staff and fostering a sense of purpose by working on projects that make a positive community impact and improve quality of life. Rubio’s tenacity serves as a beacon of inspiration; though we may face challenges throughout our journey, these challenges can be opportunities for growth, development, resilience and leaving a legacy behind that benefits those around us and the communities we live in.

Cal Poly & UC Berkeley’s Vision for Tomorrow

Transcending textbooks and classrooms, students from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo’s Associated Students in Planning and University of California Berkeley’s Transportation Graduate Students Organizing Committee recently visited the High-Speed Rail’s white mockups at Cal Expo in Sacramento. This immersive tour provided valuable insights, sparking excitement about the future that awaits California’s transit landscape.

“It was cool to see that there’s a lot of thought going into the future of High-Speed Rail,” Emma Meyer, a third-year undergraduate studying city and regional planning at Cal Poly, expressed. The students appreciated the interactive nature of the tour, which went beyond traditional presentations, allowing them to explore physical models and engage with the planning process.

Meyer noticed that the project has done a good job with inclusivity and education, “bringing a variety of age groups and younger children through to make the mock-ups accessible to everyone and to teach them about the project and get them excited.” The incorporation of features like family cars and cocoon seats garnered particular attention for accommodating diverse passenger needs.

Emma Roeller, a second-year city and regional planning major at Cal Poly found the tour to be a bridge between theory and practice, “this is what we are learning in school, and this is what High-Speed Rail is doing in the real world.”

Staying true to their dedication to public transportation, UC Berkeley students ventured from their campuses to the California High-Rail mockups at Cal Expo in Sacramento using only public transportation. If you’ve ever tried to get from the Sacramento train station to Cal Expo, you know it is no easy feat. The students shared their journey in an Instagram reel. With a blend of engineering and planning students, they were excited to discuss the intricacies of the project, learning more about parking, zoning, equity and right of way.

UC Berkeley graduate student, Winnie Zhuang, who is earning a dual Master of Science degree in Transportation Engineering and Master of City Planning in Transportation Planning and Policy was enthusiastic, “We liked how tangible the model was and how we were able to give feedback. A few of us have been to places with High-Speed rail, like Europe and Japan, so being able to compare this experience to a global experience was really neat.”

Observing the intricacies of a complex project like High-Speed Rail helped solidify Zhuang’s future career plans, “the white mock-up tour helped me see how this impacts my future having made a transition from strictly traffic engineering to multimodal transportation.”

As High-Speed Rail brings a new era of transit, the shared enthusiasm of students from Cal Poly and UC Berkeley highlights their visionary role in shaping the future of sustainable and efficient transportation solutions for California and beyond.

Riding the Rails of Tomorrow: Students Share on Social Their Tour Experience

UPDATES FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

 

 New Overpass Makes Southern California Safer, Smoother

The key to bringing high-speed rail to Southern California is partnerships. Those connections are already paying off for drivers and mass-transit fans alike.

One of the most dangerous railroad crossings in California got a major upgrade in January with the opening of a new overpass in Santa Fe Springs. LA Metro’s grade separation project at the intersection of Marquardt and Rosecrans avenues sends vehicles and pedestrians up and over the old intersection, where traffic used to stop every few minutes for passing Metrolink and Amtrak trains. Vehicles and trains alike can now continue their journeys without disrupting one another. Check out the completed structure here.

Funded partially by a $77 million investment from the California High-Speed Rail Authority, the project improves safety and traffic flow, increases the efficiency of train movements and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. In the future, high-speed rail trains will pass through the area on their way to and from Anaheim.
While the traffic is flowing, the work is not done. Crews are still working on the roads surrounding the overpass, including reconstruction of driveways and sidewalks. New light poles will go in to improve safety. Grading, paving, drainage, landscaping, fencing, signage and utility improvements are on the way. And crews will open the remaining two lanes in each direction across the overpass.

Metro expects the realigned roadway work to complete by January 2025, with full project completion next summer.

On a Roll: How the Central Valley is Already Changing with HSR

We talk about it all the time: The high-speed rail project is transformative for the Central Valley.

Our trains will one day roll out of Anaheim and Los Angeles, carrying passengers north all the way to San Francisco. On the way, riders will pass through Palmdale, Bakersfield, Fresno and more cities in the Central Valley, giving residents there access to California’s major metro areas like never before.

As the Los Angeles Times recently pointed out, this project is a very big deal for the Central Valley. It will be a vital link for an area of the state that has economically lagged behind the coast. And the Central Valley will be the first place in the Western Hemisphere where riders will experience travel on a high-speed trains, making the Central Valley something of a tourist destination.

Work is well underway on the 179 miles from Merced to Bakersfield, with a plan to open the line to public travel in about six years. The changes are obvious in downtown Fresno. Reyna Cruz, owner of Central Fish Co., says Fresno’s downtown is about to experience a boom.

“When the time is right, we’ll be in a position to capitalize on the state’s largest project ever coming into our backyard,” he told the Times. “It’s like a gift.”

Read the whole article highlighting our work in the Central Valley here: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-02-08/california-high-speed-rail-construction-progress

Gondola Could Give Fans a Lift from Union Station to Dodgers’ Games

Arriving in March at Los Angeles Union Station, eager baseball fans wearing Dodger blue T-shirts will line up on game day to board LA Metro’s Dodger Stadium Express. The two-mile bus ride removes the stress of sitting in freeway traffic and jockeying for a parking place at a stadium that seats 56,000 with parking for 16,000. In 2019, Metro’s express buses ferried more than 214,000 fans to 81 home games.

That scene could soon change. Another transportation option is under consideration. First proposed in 2018, the Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit is a system of aerial gondolas that would take fans from Union Station to Dodger Stadium. Each gondola would carry 30 people in both directions, at a maximum height of 195 feet over local roads and freeways and nearby Chinatown, Los Angeles State Historic Park and Chavez Ravine.

Although the project is funded by a nonprofit organization, LA Metro is spearheading the environmental review process. A final Environmental Impact Report was released to the public in December, with the Los Angeles City Council expected to vote on the report later this year.

Upon completion, the battery-powered zero-emission LA ART will ferry about 5,000 people per hour per direction. It will take seven minutes to go travel from end to end of the gondola, traveling at 13 mph.

The environmentally friendly project will reduce traffic congestion and include improvements at nearby Los Angeles State Historic Park. Residents and visitors to cities and locations near LA ART stations at LAUS and Los Angeles State Historic Park – including Chinatown, Mission Junction, Elysian Park, Solano Canyon and Los Angeles State Historic Park – will have access to daily aerial transportation service.

With construction estimated to last 25 months, gondolas gliding over 1.2 miles of the downtown ‘City of Angels’ could be a reality in time for the 2028 summer Olympics.

It’s Been a Wild Ride, but Conaway Geomatics is on Track for Growth

Anniversaries are about measuring growth over time. And on the five-year anniversary of its founding, HSR contractor Conaway Geomatics took a moment recently to reflect on the wild ride to this point. Through the COVID-19 pandemic and from a start with a tiny staff of four, Conaway Geomatics has found a way to grow.

Shannon and Cosette Conaway, the founders, owners and namesake of Conaway Geomatics, have grown and developed the company to fulfill their vision. They’ve created a culture and environment that supports their team through training, work experience and mentorship. All that growth and reflection has happened while working on California’s transformative high-speed rail project.

When we first met with the Conaways in 2021, the company was a team of four working as a third-tier subcontractor under Towill Inc., assisting with parcel-out granting in the Central Valley. Today, they’re a team of fifteen – their sights set on growing to 20 staffers by the end of 2024. They’ve climbed tiers as well. Conaway is now nestled in the Program Delivery Support team under the Joint Venture contractor (JV), AECOM-FLUOR. Conaway’s work in rail extends to other agencies as well, notably with LA Metro, Metrolink and Union Pacific. Outside of rail, the company works with utility agencies and private engineering firms, California State Parks and local municipalities.

Their growth isn’t isolated to the company’s number of employees on payroll or the number or size of projects they take on.

“We are a very, very young team. So, we’re about empowering people to take their next steps and grow,” Cosette Conaway said.

Conaway Geomatics develops and maintains a professional development plan for all its staff members. Once a quarter, the Conaways meet with each staff member to discuss their professional growth. Staff members are given the opportunity to express what they need – from licensures to business writing courses – to develop into the professionals they aspire to be.

And there are still problems ahead. More surveyors are retiring from and leaving the industry at a higher rate than those coming in. Without a strong workforce, infrastructure projects can feel the impact, high-speed rail included. As a result, Conaway’s efforts in the building and within the industry serve a dual purpose – to help their company and industry.

Offering a meaningful and paid internship experience for college students is one of the ways they turn a seed into a flower. “Our intern(s), when they come in, they’re taught how to survey,” Cosette Conaway said. It takes around a month to get an intern up to speed. But it’s vital to the experience. An intern at Conaway isn’t entering data into a spreadsheet all day – they’re brought onto projects with full-time staff and learning the business hands-on.

Outside their building, the Conaways strive to give back to the community that has given them so much. They sit on various boards of local industry chapters, like ACEC of Orange County, and present to students at California Polytechnic University, Pomona and California State University, Fresno. Hopefully, some of those students are future surveyors. They call their presentations Mapping Your Career. Making an impact at the college level has helped the company, in a shrinking industry, continue to grow.

“Our mission is to really find the people who want to be part of the industry and make them successful. Support their vision and mission,” Cosette Conaway said. And it’s necessary. Not just for Conaway Geomatics, but for the infrastructure industry as a whole.

A Look Back at ‘Girl Day’ and a Look Ahead at the Festival of Books

Talking about high-speed rail can be challenging. It’s a complicated project and people understandably have a wide range of questions.

Talking about the project is also one of the highlights of the job. Time and again, when we go to a public event, the feedback is positive. And one of the comments comes up again and again: We wish it could happen sooner.

So do we. Talking to the public is part of how we’re making it happen, by raising awareness and raising support for the project. The Authority attended dozens of events in Southern California in 2023, talking to thousands of visitors from young to old.

The 2024 public events calendar has been busy, just as we like it. In February, we were thrilled to support the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Girl Day. Senior Transportation Engineer Anna Chrissanthis spoke to a large group of sixth-through-twelfth graders as part of Engineers Week in Los Angeles. She told the students there weren’t many women working as engineers when Anna started her work, but she said she was fortunate to have women mentors and leaders who supported her career.

Her message to the girls was clear: There’s support now for girls who want to build a STEM career.

The Authority strives to get more women and girls involved with transportation careers. That’s why we’re taking part in LA Metro’s Girls Empowerment Summit on March 22. And we don’t just talk about it; well more than half of our senior leadership roles are held by women.

We’re also very excited to attend the annual Festival of Books on USC’s campus on April 21 and 22. (Yes, we’re book nerds, too.) Swing by our booth to talk about trains and hear about all the progress we’re making this year on building the opening line from Merced to Bakersfield on our way to Los Angeles and Anaheim!

Mobility 21 Group Joins High-Speed Rail Authority in Sacramento

On February 13, Southern California’s Mobility 21 coalition came to Sacramento for their annual Legislative Day. Mobility 21 is a coalition that brings together public, business and community stakeholders from the Southern California transportation networks.

Their full day of transportation advocacy and education included a sit-down with the Authority to hear the latest updates on the project and get a briefing on the 2024 Draft Business Plan. Chief Financial Officer Brian Annis, Chief of Strategic Communications Melissa Figueroa and Southern California Regional Director LaDonna DiCamillo led the briefing, which took place in the State Capitol. The group was keen to hear about plans for the recent $3.1 billion grant award and plans to advance the project in Southern California.

“Southern California is in the process of building a more-comprehensive transportation network that ties in statewide, regional and local systems,” DiCamillo said. “Mobility 21 is all about making that happen in a collaborative way that makes the most sense for the entire Southern California region.”

 

Upcoming Events

Here are upcoming events that you won’t want to miss!

East Palo Alto Farmers’ Market
May 8, 2024

California High-Speed Rail Authority representatives will be at the East Palo Alto Farmers’ Market. Stop by to stock up on fresh produce and talk with us about high-speed rail. Click here for more information.

Sciencepalooza
April 20, 2024

Northern California’s Outreach team will be at Sciencepalooza, engaging students with a High-Speed Rail interactive activity. This event is free and open to the public. Click here for more information.

Festival of Books
April 21 – 22, 2024

Southern California’s Outreach team will be at Los Angeles Time’s Festival of Books. This event is free and open to the public. Click here for more information.

Quarterly Newsletter Archive

• Winter 2024 All Aboard Newsletter
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