The California High-Speed Rail Authority has published its 2024 Sustainability Report, outlining progress on building the state’s first 220-mph electrified high-speed rail system, which will be powered by 100% renewable energy.
The report reflects the project’s environmental, social, and economic priorities, contributing to California’s carbon neutrality goals.
“Realising California’s core goal of carbon neutrality is why we are building this state-of-the-art, resilient high-speed rail system. This report illustrates how investment in cleaner construction practices and disadvantaged communities today delivers meaningful economic, social, and environmental benefits now and paves the way for the greatest long-term benefits: a clean and profoundly more connected California with the nation’s first 220-mph electrified high-speed rail system powered by 100% renewable energy as a centerpiece.”
The report highlights that the project has:
- Grown in the number of small and disadvantaged businesses involved, with a 166% increase in small businesses and a 191% rise in disadvantaged enterprises since 2015.
- Avoided 110,000 pounds of pollutants in 2023, with over 570,000 pounds avoided since construction began.
- Continued conservation efforts, including the preservation of more than 4,400 acres of habitat and the protection of 3,400 acres of agricultural land.
- Diverted 95% of non-hazardous waste from landfills, with 306,159 tons of 323,739 total tons recycled or reused.
- Advancement of station design and delivery, with an emphasis on phased development to benefit communities.
Additional project benefits include:
- Creation of 3,000 future jobs and 14,096 construction jobs to date.
- Engagement of 847 small businesses and an investment of 6.6 billion USD in disadvantaged communities.
- Expected avoidance of 142 million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions during operation.
- 527,707 metric tonnes of carbon already sequestered through conservation efforts.
The report covers progress made in 2023 and includes data from early 2024.
As it continues to deliver these benefits, the Authority is extending the 119 miles under construction to 171 miles, linking Merced to Bakersfield.
There are over 25 active construction sites in the Central Valley, and the project has cleared 463 miles for environmental compliance from the Bay Area to Los Angeles.
