New whitepaper outlines how to transform Southern California rail through electrification, level boarding, and through-running. Southern California is a megaregion, with jobs, homes, and destinations spread across an area as large as some countries. Population has grown fastest far from city centers, leading to worsening traffic and the US’s dirtiest Read more…
Californians for Electric Rail has previously written about errors in the California Air Resources Board (CARB)’s public-facing materials and reports. Our latest whitepaper points out shortcomings in CARB’s 2020 Trucks vs Trains Analysis. CARB’s main “Trucks vs. Trains” figure edited to include data they calculated, but excluded from the report: Read more…
In order to meet the ambitious service and electrification goals in the State Rail Plan 2050, California will need to seriously re-think the shape and flow of design and capital investment. High-frequency intercity and regional rail service will require more resources but also more stable and predictable investment. To this Read more…
Californians for Electric Rail applauds Governor Newsom’s proposal to commit at least $1 B/year of Cap and Trade revenues to California High Speed Rail. Providing a consistent minimum amount of funding will lead to better construction schedules and unlock private financing that will allow the Authority to access more money Read more…
On September 27, 2024 Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2503, which exempts electric rail projects within existing rights-of-way for passenger service from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Based on the experience of years of delay via CEQA lawsuit Caltrain experienced and the aborted attempts by other agencies Read more…