California’s Largest Transportation Nonprofit Endorses High-Speed Rail Project

Release #12-08—June 14, 2012

TransForm, California’s largest transportation nonprofit, came out in support of the state’s high-speed rail line, citing the project’s potential to create jobs and meet the state’s growing transportation needs.  The National Association of Railroad Passengers applauds TransForm’s stand for the future of California’s mobility, and joins them in urging the California Legislature to immediately approve funding for the project.

TransForm based its decision on an analysis of the project’s benefits and risks, which was released yesterday.  The report emphasized the 100,000 new jobs the project would create, providing much needed growth in the state’s struggling economy—especially in the hard-hit Central Valley.  In the longer term, TransForm found that the high-speed rail project would be essential in maintaining functioning, livable metropolitan areas in the face of population growth.

Additionally, the report found the project’s risks—inherent in an undertaking of this magnitude—had been minimized in the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s (CAHSRA) most recent business plan, which eliminates the possibility of “stranded assets.”  In other words, the early investments would still be useful even if the project is not fully completed.

“The project is now designed to serve as the backbone of a statewide rail network, rather than an isolated system,” stated TransForm’s report.  “It supports early upgrades to Caltrain and Metrolink as well as lines now used by Amtrak and ACE, allowing those systems to go faster and attract more riders.  Millions of Californians will benefit from these first investments by 2018.”

TransForm conclusions concur with the work NARP has done in looking at the planned San Francisco–Los Angeles rail corridor.  Recent estimates by the state predict that California’s population will grow to 50 million people by the year 2050.  CAHSRA found that, absent high speed rail, the state would need to spend $171 billion over the next 40 years to achieve an equivalent growth in capacity as the high-speed trains would provide—2,300 lane miles of new highway capacity, 115 new airport gates, and four new runways.

“Traffic congestion in California is increasing by 10 percent annually, and by the year 2030 all the states’ major airports are expected to reach capacity,” said NARP President Ross Capon.  “With little room for expansion, passengers will be plagued by delays and California’s economic growth will be constricted, unless there is a significant increase in infrastructure investment.  While a 20-year transportation plan may not be the foremost issue in the minds of voters, it is absolutely essential that state legislators do the right thing and build a foundation for a prosperous Californian future.” 

About the National Association of Railroad Passengers

NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger train service in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 22,000 individual members. 

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