Impact of the California High Speed Rail System

Lee Ann Eager, Chief Operating OfficerEconomic Development Corporation serving Fresno County

Current Status

•800 mile track (San Diego to San Francisco)

•Up to 220 mph•Expected ridership (2025):

Los Angeles to San Francisco: 120,000 People Daily

•$5.5 Billion Total •Construction Start Date: September 2012•Ride Start date: 2017

Local Benefits

Cheaper, faster and more convenient travel connected to local public transportation

Revitalized communities and economic development around new transportation terminals

Improved movement of people, goods and services

Faster travel on the ground between major metropolitan areas

Congestion relief on freeways and at airports

Right now, congestion costs approximately $20 billion per year in wasted fuel and lost time

Overall Benefits

The potential for 450,000 permanent new jobs statewide created over the next 25 years

Economic Benefits

As many as 100,000 construction-related jobs each year that the system is being built

Which means…

600,000 construction related jobs over the life of the project

Types of Jobs Created

PRECONSTRUCTION JOBS▫Right of Way Engineering▫Cleaning & Grubbing▫Surveying▫Construction Management▫Inspection▫Demolition▫Hazmat Removal▫Utility Relocation

CORE SYSTEM JOBS• Train sets• Train Control – Signaling• Communications• Central Control Center

– Operations & power supply• Electrification / Traction Power

– Traction power supply stations– Switching/paralleling stations– Overhead contact systems (OCS)

• Track, ties/ballast, fastening system• Maintenance equipment for trains & systems

Types of Jobs Created

MAINTENANCE JOBS• Train servicing & inspection• Train maintenance• Fixed core system & infrastructure inspection &

maintenance

OPERATION JOBS• Service planning & fare setting• Operations planning, scheduling, fares• Train driving & dispatching• On-board passenger services• Ticketing & revenue accounting• Station services & security

Types of Jobs Created

Projected Impact: Local Example

Los Angeles, California

$360 million per year of new spending in LA downtown area

• $234 million: Southern CA visitors

• $126 million: long distance visitors

Actual Impact: International Example

Shinkansen, JapanIn the 10 years after HSR, cities had:

• Population growth rates 22% higher• Industrial, retail, wholesale sector and

construction 16-34% higher• Significant hotel growth • Land prices in commercial areas 67%

higher

High speed trains will boost CA’s economy:  

•450,000 permanent jobs

•600,000 construction jobs over the course of the project

•Improving the movement of people, goods and services

•Reducing travel times and road congestion

Summary