This division shall be known, and may be cited, as the California High-Speed Rail Act.
Chapter 1General Provisions,Findings, and Definitions
Section § 185000
This section establishes the official name of the law as the California High-Speed Rail Act.
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Section § 185010
This section highlights the need for a new transportation plan in California due to the inadequacy of existing freeways and airports. It stresses that expanding current infrastructure is too costly and harms air quality. As a solution, developing an intercity rail system that integrates with urban transit and airports is proposed. This rail system, inspired by high-speed trains in Europe and Japan, could address future travel demand more efficiently and with less pollution. The plan includes preparing for a high-speed rail system by 2020, establishing a stable funding source, and ensuring job and economic growth. Both public and private sectors should collaborate on this effort. The current high-speed rail commission needs a successor to carry on the planning and execution.
The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following:
(a)CA Public Utilities Code § 185010(a) California, over the past decades, has built an extensive network of freeways and airports to meet the state’s growing transportation needs.
(b)CA Public Utilities Code § 185010(b) These facilities are not adequate to meet the mobility needs of the current population.
(c)CA Public Utilities Code § 185010(c) The population of the state and the travel demands of its citizens are expected to continue to grow at a rapid rate.
(d)CA Public Utilities Code § 185010(d) The cost of expanding the current network of highways and airports fully to meet current and future transportation needs is prohibitive, and a total expansion strategy would be detrimental to air quality.
(e)CA Public Utilities Code § 185010(e) Intercity rail service, when coordinated with urban transit and airports, is an efficient, practical, and less polluting transportation mode that can fill the gap between future demand and present capacity.
(f)CA Public Utilities Code § 185010(f) Advances in rail technology have allowed intercity rail systems in Europe and Japan to attain speeds of up to 200 miles per hour and compete effectively with air travel for trips in the 200 to 500-mile range.
(g)CA Public Utilities Code § 185010(g) Development of a high-speed rail system is a necessary and viable alternative to automobile and air travel in the state.
(h)CA Public Utilities Code § 185010(h) In order for the state to have a comprehensive network of high-speed intercity rail systems by the year 2020, it must begin preparation of a high-speed intercity rail plan similar to California’s former freeway plan and designate an entity with stable and predictable funding sources to implement the plan.
(i)CA Public Utilities Code § 185010(i) Utilizing existing human and manufacturing resources to build a large network of high-speed rail systems will generate jobs and economic growth for today’s population and produce a transportation network for future generations.
(j)CA Public Utilities Code § 185010(j) Upon confirmation of the need and costs by detailed studies, the private sector, together with the state, can build and operate new high-speed intercity rail systems utilizing private and public financing.
(k)CA Public Utilities Code § 185010(k) The existing high-speed rail commission is completing its work and a successor authority to continue planning is necessary.
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Section § 185012
This section defines key terms for a specific division of the California Public Utilities Code. It clarifies that the 'Authority' refers to the High-Speed Rail Authority, the 'Department' refers to the Department of Transportation, and 'high-speed rail' is defined as intercity passenger rail service capable of maintaining speeds of 200 miles per hour or more.
As used in this division, unless the context requires otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings:
(a)CA Public Utilities Code § 185012(a) “Authority” means the High-Speed Rail Authority.
(b)CA Public Utilities Code § 185012(b) “Department” means the Department of Transportation.
(c)CA Public Utilities Code § 185012(c) “High-speed rail” means intercity passenger rail service that utilizes an alignment and technology that makes it capable of sustained speeds of 200 miles per hour or greater.
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