High-Speed Rail Authority's Frequently Asked Questions

http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/faqs/stimulus.htm

Questions & Answers
California's Economic Stimulus

Will the high-speed train system create new jobs and boost our economy?

Yes. The statewide high-speed train project will require us to draw upon and expand California’s skilled workforce, creating nearly 160,000 construction-related jobs to plan, design and build the system. An additional 450,000 permanent jobs are expected to be created by 2035 as a result of the economic growth the train system will bring to California. High speed trains will further boost California’s economy by:

* Improving the movement of people, goods and services throughout the state;
* Generating more than $1 billion in annual revenue surplus;
* Reducing travel times for train riders;
* Reducing delays to air and auto travelers as freeways and airports are relieved of congestion;
* Reducing air pollution and related health care costs;
* Reducing auto accident fatalities and injuries and related health care costs.

How much does our broken transportation system cost our economy?

California has three of the top five most congested urban areas in the United States. Right now, congestion costs approximately $20 billion per year in wasted fuel and lost time.

What would be the cost of expanding our highways and airports to meet future intercity demands instead of building the high-speed train system?

To serve the same number of travelers as the high-speed train system, California would have to build nearly 3,000 lane-miles of freeway plus five airport runways and 90 departure gates by 2020 – costing more than twice the high-speed train system and having much greater environmental impacts. What’s more, the proposed high-speed train system will provide lower passenger costs than for travel by automobile or air for the same city-to-city markets.