The new plan to accelerate high -speed rail construction of California deserves attention, support

With the Trump Administration investigation In the high -speed railway project in California, the news coverage is largely focused on attempt to violate the projectS In the meantime, almost no one talks about the aggressive new leader of the California railway organ and his dramatic efforts to accelerate the construction of the bullet train.

Ian Chudri, the agency’s new CEO responsible for the implementation of the project has spent decades of working on large railway projects For large construction, engineering and high -speed train companies. He believes he needs an extensive change in the organ.

As a first step, Choudri converts the culture of the organization to focus on the results, while removing overlapping roles and responsibilities. It also overcomes all existing plans of the combined comb project to reduce costs while examining strategies to increase additional revenue. This includes the potential monetary of excess real estate, fiber networks and advertising space.

Although the goal in recent years is to focus resources on the construction of an early operating line in the central valley, Choudri has directed its higher glances. The purpose of Starting a high -speed train service in the central valley In the early 2030s, Choudri also wanted to simultaneously start the construction of extensions in the main settlements of San Francisco and the Los Angeles subway within the next few years.

Construction will start on a Line passing northwest in the silicone valley This will be included in the Caltrain Commuter railway system, which connects with San Francisco. Construction will also start from a Line pointed south in the northern district LA This is associated with the Metrolink Commuter railway service with the center of Los Angeles as well as with High -desert corridor and Brightline western high -speed rail Systems operating northeast to Las Vegas.

This will connect the beginner high-speed rail network in busy regional transit systems in the largest metro regions in California and thus begin to be supplied with long-range mobility, economic development, accessibility of housing and the benefits of climate-not to mention the cost-effectiveness. It will also set the project within a striking distance from its final destination: a seat between the center of San Francisco and the center of Los Angeles in less than 3 hours.

What is needed to deliver this plan is stable funding. The project has been injured by unpredictable, stopping and moving funding From the beginning – a reliable engine of recurring escalations. If stable state -of -the -way funding can be guaranteed for years to come, construction can continue throughout the section of 300 miles between the Silicon Valley and the County LA within the next few years.

Choudri in the past has provided private funding for railway projects and believes it can provide billions of dollars private investment in the California project in the short term. But the key to unlocking these private dollars is to first provide a fixed level of financing, year and year, by the government of the state.

Currently, the high -speed rail line receives 25% of the revenue from the annual state state Cap and Trade ProgramS The revenues range from year to year, as the market price determined by the market is fluctuating, with distributions to the high -speed rail project ranging from $ 750 million to $ 1.25 billion. This year, state legislators began discussing what the next version of the program would look like if it was re -authorized after 2030, creating uncertainty about the most consequence source of project financing.

Private investors are disgusting to invest in projects with this level of funding instability. It is similar to the qualification for a home mortgage: no stable income, an individual cannot qualify for a loan.

If the legislature subtracts a solid amount of a fixed dollar for the high -speed railway, which is moving forward, paired with state reversing, Choudri believes that it can use this flow of income to provide billions in private funding and fill the rest of the financing difference.

Now power has a reliable plan to accelerate the construction of the bullet train. What is clear The majority of California voters who want a high-speed railway line The need is a serious commitment from the California legislature to put up America’s most important infrastructure project in Overdrive.