California State Legislature to Get on Track with High-Speed Rail.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Signaling heightened interest in developing a statewide high-speed train network, Senator Dean Florez today introduced a resolution to create a Joint Committee on High Speed Trains. The resolution calls for the Joint Committee to hold public hearings in affected communities to elicit additional public comment and review the work of the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA). The 770-mile system and its development is key to alleviating the state's transportation crisis and boosting California's productivity. The Joint Committee would be comprised of five members of the Senate and 5 members of the Assembly.

"The Authority welcomes the opportunity to work directly with the Legislature on this one-of-a-kind project," said Mehdi Morshed, executive director of the CHSRA. "A project of this size requires that the state's leadership intimately understands the scope of the project. Issues such as potential financing and governance still need to be addressed. We eagerly anticipate the greater focus that this Joint Committee offers on this project."

The electric-powered, high-speed trains will change the landscape of transportation in California. The system creates an express corridor to move goods and people at speeds up to 220 mph, allowing for travel from downtown San Francisco to Los Angeles in 2 1/2 hours. The route stretches from San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento in the north, through the Central Valley to Los Angeles and San Diego in the south. It integrates with the state's existing transportation network, particularly intercity rail and bus lines, commuter rail lines and urban rail transit lines.

The route of the system is determined through the EIR process following state and federal guidelines. The EIR/EIS planning document recently was certified without any legal challenges, unheard of in a project of this magnitude.

"The Sierra Club is thankful that Senator Florez is championing this project because of the positive impacts it would have on the state's air quality," said Bill Allayaud, director, Sierra Club of California. "Whether you live in the L.A. area, Central Valley or Bay Area, it's clear we need to get people out of their cars using smarter and more efficient ways to travel."

The timing of the Joint Committee also indicates that the Legislature will likely delay the vote from November 2006 to November 2008. This allows for further refinement of the high-speed train project before it is presented to California voters.