The California High-Speed Rail Authority

Established in 1996, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) is the state entity responsible for planning, constructing and operating a high-speed train system serving California's major metropolitan areas. The Authority has a nine-member policy board (five appointed by the governor, two appointed by the Senate Rules Committee, and two by the speaker of the Assembly) and a small core staff. All environmental, planning and engineering work is performed by private firms under contract with the Authority.

With the certification of the Statewide Final Program-Level Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), the Authority has begun implementation of the 800-mile high-speed train system serving Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area, the Central Valley, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, Orange County and San Diego. High-speed trains will be capable of maximum speeds of 220 miles per hour with an expected trip time from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 2 hours and 40 minutes. The system is forecast to potentially carry over 100 million passengers per year by 2030.

Voter approval of Proposition 1A on the November 4, 2008 ballot provided $9 billion in bond funding for the 800-mile statewide network and $950 million to finance capital improvements to commuter and intercity rail as well as local transit lines that will connect existing infrastructure to the high-speed train system.