California's High Speed Rail

On January 28th, the Obama Administration announced that California will receive $2.25 billion in federal stimulus funds to jump-start high-speed rail construction. With work on high-speed rail shovel-ready, this project stands to serve as an immediate catalyst to good job creation and sustained economic growth.

The California high-speed rail project will create more than 160,000 construction jobs and an estimated 450,000 long-term jobs in maintenance, operations, supplies, services and related jobs. At a time when California is facing record unemployment, these green jobs will set in motion a ripple effect across the state, spurring economic growth and vitality. Over time, high-speed rail will ease traffic congestion, lessen pollution and facilitate the movement of goods and workers. High-speed rail will eliminate 12 billion pounds of environmentally damaging emissions each year—the equivalent of removing 1 million cars from our roads.

Labor, business and environmental organizations have come together to support California’s application because high-speed rail is good for all of us.

While the federal funding is a major boost to California’s high-speed rail project, it’s important to identify ongoing funding sources to support construction, operation and maintenance. The California Labor Federation, in conjunction with a number of California unions and allies, fought hard to help secure these federal funds for the state. Together, we stand ready to work with state and federal officials to ensure that high-speed rail’s promise becomes a reality.

For more information, contact Sara Flocks, Public Policy Coordinator, California Labor Federation, at (510) 663-4033