March 28, 2016 - Presented to: Assembly Committee on Transportation
April 2, 2018 - Presented to: Assembly Committee on Transportation
March 13, 2020 - In this report, we identify a number of key issues for legislative oversight. First, we point out that the near‑ and long‑term schedules identified in the draft 2020 business plan appear ambitious. Second, we identify some near‑ and long‑term funding challenges confronting the project. Third, we raise concerns that HSRA’s plan to use a third‑party public entity to operate interim service from Merced to Bakersfield appears to be inconsistent with the spirit of Proposition 1A. Forth, we identify some of the key assumptions made by the ETO that affect its assessment of alternatives. Fifth, we identify some key actions that HSRA plans to take in the coming months that will significantly limit the state’s flexibility to change its approach to the project in the future.
November 29, 2011 - Presented to: Assembly Transportation Committee
March 26, 2019 - Senate Transportation Committee and Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy and Transportation
March 27, 2014 - Presented to: Senate Transportation and Housing Committee
March 16, 2021 - Senate Committee on Transportation and Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Labor and Transportation
March 11, 2024 - Presented to: Assembly Committee on Transportation
March 12, 2024 - Presented to: Senate Committee on Transportation
March 8, 2022 - Presented to: Senate Transportation Committee and Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor and Transportation
May 9, 2019 - Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy and Transportation
April 17, 2012 - In April 2012, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) released its most recent business plan, estimating the cost of constructing the first phase of the high-speed train project at $68 billion. However, the HSRA has secured only about $9 billion in voter approved bond funds and $3.5 billion in federal funds. The revised business plan also makes significant changes from prior plans, such as proposing to integrate high-speed rail with other passenger rail systems, constructing the southern portion of the system first, assuming lower construction costs, and using “cap-and-trade” auction revenues if additional federal funds fail to materialize. Consistent with the HSRA's revised business plan, the Governor’s budget plan for 2012-13 requests $5.9 billion to continue the high-speed rail project--$2.6 billion in state bond funds matched with $3.3 billion in federal funds to begin construction in the Central Valley. In addition, about $800 million is requested to make improvements to existing passenger rail services and about $250 million to complete preliminary design work and environmental reviews for various sections of the project. In this brief report, we find that HSRA has not provided sufficient detail and justification to the Legislature regarding its plan to build a high-speed train system. Specifically, funding for the project remains highly speculative and important details have not been sorted out. We recommend the Legislature not approve the Governor’s various budget proposals to provide additional funding for the project. However, we do recommend that some minimal funding be provided to continue planning efforts that are currently underway.
February 21, 2022 - In this handout, we (1) provide background information on the planned high-speed rail system, (2) describe the major features of the High-Speed Rail Authority’s draft 2022 business plan, (3) identify some preliminary issues for legislative consideration, and (4) discuss key decisions facing the Legislature.
April 12, 2023 - Presented to: Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy and Transportation Assembly Committee on Transportation
March 28, 2023 - Presented to: Senate Committee on Transportation
March 9, 2021 - Analyzes the High-Speed Rail Authority's Revised Draft 2020 Business Plan and provides some issues for legislative consideration.
March 10, 2021 - Presented to: Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation Hon. Richard Bloom, Chair and Assembly Committee on Transportation Hon. Laura Friedman, Chair
February 21, 2013 - The Governor’s budget provides a total of $21.1 billion from various fund sources—the General Fund, special funds, bond funds, federal funds, and reimbursements for various transportation departments and programs under the new Transportation Agency in 2013-14. This is an increase of $558 million, or 2.7 percent, above estimated expenditures for the current year. In this report, we review the Governor’s 2013-14 budget proposals for various transportation departments and programs, including the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the California High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA), and the California Highway Patrol. We identify concerns with several of the proposals and make recommendations for legislative consideration. In some cases, we identify proposals that we think should be rejected or modified. We also identify issues that we think would benefit from additional legislative oversight. These include (1) the ability of Caltrans to manage its budget and workload for completing project initiation documents and (2) the HSRA's oversight of the design and construction of the state's high-speed rail project.
November 15, 2011 - Strategy for Reviewing the Draft 2012 High-Speed Rail Authority Business Plan