California High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors Meeting, March 16, 2023

1. Consider Approving the February 16, 2023, Board Meeting Minutes

2. Expenditure Authorization Request

3. Economic Impact Analysis Report

4. CEO Report

- Program Update
- Federal Grant Strategy

5. Finance and Audit Committee Report

6. Closed Session

The Authority will meet in closed session pursuant to Government Code section 11126(e)(1)&(2)(A) and (B) to confer with counsel with regard to the following litigation:
- Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority v. California High-Speed Rail Authority (Sacramento Superior Court Case No.34-2022-80003821)
- City of Millbrae v. San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District; Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board; California High-Speed Rail Authority (San Mateo Superior Court Case No. 22-CIV-02713)
- City of Brisbane v. California High-Speed Rail Authority (Sacramento County Superior Court, Case No. 34-2022-80004010)
- Baylands Development, Inc. v. California High-Speed Rail Authority (Sacramento Superior Court, Case No. 34-2022-80004009)
- City of Millbrae v. California High-Speed Rail Authority (Sacramento County Superior Court, Case No. 34-2022-80004016)
- Arbitration in the matter of HSR13-57- Construction Package (CP) 2-3 Dragados/Flatiron Joint Venture

[jeffreypierson]

To the CHSRA staff, can you please link the slide shows in the agenda area?
4:20 Public Comments
10:00 2. Expenditure Authorization Request by Brian Annis and Daniel Horgan
1:18:35 3. Economic Impact Analysis Report by Derek Boughton
1:35:18 4. CEO Report by Brian Kelly
- Program Update
- Federal Grant Strategy
1:59:40 5. Finance and Audit Committee Report

[brandonk]

No major changes in the budget compared to the presentations made at the last Board Meeting, but at the very least this is a case of no news being good news. I just wish the FRA wasn't such a black box when it comes to federal grant processes or even grant timelines. All anyone knows is that the decisions are expected sometime within the coming months which just sounds unnecessarily difficult for project managers to deal with. On a related note, 10/10 chart design at 1:41:58. I know it was in the last meeting, but it really does help the public get an idea of the Authority's Federal Grant Strategy.

[burgerman]

We need to crash some billionaire’s dinner party and convince them to donate a few of their billions to high speed rail after a few bottles of wine.

[KcarlMarXs]

Imagine if we funded 10, 000 workers. Just build it, and the benefits will come.

[TohaBgood]

Ok, the cost increases hurt, but you can't do much about inflation. Overall, the future looks pretty bright for CAHSR. Hopefully, they keep making solid progress like they have in the last couple of years.

[MaxFung]

"50 BILLION DOLLARS... OR 11 DAYS WORTH OF DEFENSE SPENDING" POP OFF KING

[sabymondal]

Oneday the naysayers will be proud of California when the train starts running at 200 m/hr. Patiently waiting for that!!! 👍

[readyredpanda]

Today in English class I did a Ted talk on CAHSR

[davidjackson]

My worrisome concern is CAHSR's $8 Billion grant request from the BIL. Though $66 Billion seems like a lot and it is the largest ever by far for passenger rail service it has a lot of pent-up demand and competition for funding.

$22 Billion will be for the NEC to repair and replace 125 year-old tunnels and bridges and upgrade some track north of NY to increase speed. Also, south of NY infrastructure work will upgrade track to achieve higher speeds. $22 Billion will go to national Amtrak projects ranging from improving existing routes to reestablishing old discontinued routes and for creating much needed new routes. That leaves $22 Billion (maybe less) for all of the other state, regional, intercity, and local transit needs.

A lot agencies will be submitting grant requests. I think the most CAHSR can hope for being granted is $4.5 Billion over a 5-10 year period. The balance will have to come from the state, making the build-out slower. Last thought: The cap and trade tax credit program sunsets in 2030. What is the likelihood it will be extended? What will the revenue be? Will companies even need to purchase such tax credts by then?

[davidjackson]

I look foward to riding on the CAHSR from the SF Transit Center to Disneyland in less than 3 hours for $101 by 2025.

[ploppill]

See Big Dig in Boston, corruption never dies, it just has a tan in California

[ploppill]

I eagerly await the finger pointing once the lawsuits fly when this it will

[annschneider]

sound is really bad, economic analysis does not include loss of local economic growth in millbrae and brisbane.