Proud & honored to be in the Wisconsin Capitol room with so many people coming from many different backgrounds including Jewish relatives of Holocaust survivors to testify against the bill that would codify the IHRA definition of antisemitism. #PalestineWillBeFree #CivicEngagement #SB445 #AB446
Some of our initiatives, like 3rd party permit reform #SB445 or ending patchwork funding, weren't successful. And the Trump administration's war on renewable energy, freight emissions regulations, high-speed rail funding, immigrant transit riders, and the City of Los Angeles are all setbacks 11/
New poll shows most Californians want to keep funding High-Speed Rail, but don't think they will see it completed. It's time for the legislature to commit to a sustainable funding plan via #CapAndTrade and reforms like #SB445 that can get the project moving faster. www.politico.com/newsletters/...
The California High Speed Rail Authority wants to speed up construction progress via two key reforms: standardized protocol for engaging with utilities and resolving disputes ( #SB445), and a dedicated judge for handling eminent domain lawsuits. www.mercedsunstar.com/news/califor...
Overall we look forward to implementing many of these recommendations. #SB445 is a good start but there's a lot more work to do to end needless stalling by 3rd parties on transit projects.
"The Powerless Brokers" identifies over $50 million in cost overruns and 5 years of delay on California High-Speed Rail related to 3rd party permit issues in just two Central Valley cities. To #FinishTheLine, we need to streamline 3rd party permits for HSR - and #SB445 is a great start.
Reporting live from @circulatesd.bsky.social's press conference about their new whitepaper, The Powerless Brokers - about 3rd party issues slow down transit projects. @colinparent.bsky.social is talking about #SB445 and the need to invest in the LOSSAN corridor.
Unfortunately, due to opposition from utilities, the scope of the bill has been narrowed to the High Speed Rail Authority, but the bill is still an important step to resolving the issue of utility relocation delays that plague this critical project to this day. #BuildHSR #SB445
The US spends 2-3x more on transit infrastructure projects than peer countries. Bringing our costs down to par is the equivalent to doubling or tripling our transit investments. Let's pass #SB445 and get rid of patchwork funding and make it happen!
The top risk for bringing CA High Speed Rail into San Francisco? Utility delays. #SB445 would fix this
We need universal state or agency permitting for transit projects. #SB445 moves us in this direction. Master permitting authority cuts through the utility delays that slow rail projects to a crawl.
CA High Speed Rail CEO Ian Choudri: "Major utilities not getting out of the way in time literally derailed the rail program."
Let's fix this by passing #SB445, and get CA High Speed Rail moving! youtube.com/clip/Ugkx-Z8...
Brightline West is seeking its 3rd permit extension for its Las Vegas station and still has not started construction. Let's not pretend CA High Speed Rail is the only project to experience delays. Time to fix 3rd party permits with #SB445! www.8newsnow.com/news/local-n...
The Building Trades are sponsoring California's biggest transit streamlining bill of the year, #SB445, and are probably the only reason it's still moving forward despite opposition from utilities.
9. CHSRA lacks the capacity to deliver the EOS by 2033. CHSRA has the legal authority to plan, design, and construct a high-speed rail system within the State and can exercise eminent domain to facilitate such efforts. However, FRA found that the limits on CHSRA's legal authority, including the authorizing legislation for the CHSR System, have severely curtailed CHSRA's ability to deliver the CHSR Project effectively and efficiently, and has resulted in substantial delay and cost overruns. As such, FRA concludes CHSRA lacks the capacity to deliver the EOS within the schedule and budget committed to in the FY10 Agreement and FSP Agreement. From its outset, CHSRA was not set up for efficient and effective project delivery. For example, Proposition 1A, the ballot measure that authorized the project, requires that the project use an alignment that follows existing transportation and utility corridors. This lack of flexibility has slowed the project down because these corridors are developed extensively and often involve more utility conflicts. To resolve these conflicts, CHSRA must negotiate an agreement with each affected owner. These negotiations have caused a significant delay to the project as they typically take several months to resolve.
... the CHSRA IG also noted, with CHSRA's concurrence, that CHSRA is politically hamstrung and lacks any leverage to get affected property owners, utilities, or municipalities to work towards an agreement. This has led to a pattern of common concessions made by CHSRA such as unrealistically limited construction windows, or agreeing to compensate third parties for their attorney costs related to negotiating the relocation agreements. CHSRA has acknowledged that its lack of leverage has already caused a year of slippage in its timeline to complete the EOS. However, despite these known concerns, the State of California has not enacted legislation to facilitate CHSRA's ability to negotiate arms-length or to accelerate third-party negotiations. Discusses a series of stalled construction incidents due to landowners, as well as expensive concessions given to the town of Wasco.
Trump's FRA specifically calls out 3rd party delays and concessions in their report and suggests legislation to increase CAHSRA's leverage. SB 445 does just this. California could ensure victory in their battle against Trump *and* faster progress on HSR by passing #SB445 this month with the budget.
The Trump Administration has released its report revoking funding for California High Speed Rail. Their legal case is on shaky grounds, and California will win. Here's what CA can do to shore up the future of CA High Speed Rail:
- Guarantee $ 1B/year in funding from Cap and Trade
- Pass #SB445!
#SB445 bsky.app/profile/stre...
Yeah it's really frustrating how long the whole project is taking. California needs to pass #SB445 so utilities can stop holding up construction permits for arbitrary reasons. Other than that, the project really needs funding so they can move in parallel and get started on the tunnel to LA.
To be fair, Newsom could do a better job at touting reforms that happened under his administration, like getting the CA High Speed Rail Authority up to 55/45 staff/consultant ratio. Or publicly supporting reforms like #SB445 that will save costs and time on the rest of the project.
Local mayors can be a powerful force for slowing down transit projects. #SB445 would help reduce one of their biggest forms of leverage: building permits, by creating standards for when and how permits must be issued. Let's get it passed!
Some fixes to 2 and 3 have already been implemented. We can fix 4 and 5 this legislative session by passing #SB445 and renewing Cap and Trade to #FundHSR. But don't let project opponents tell you they had nothing to do with increased costs.
Why we need #SB445 in a nutshell. CA High Speed Rail is trying to right-size stations to reduce costs, but now the Mayor of Fresno is going to try and fight it.
So long as permits for transit projects are in the hands of individual cities, we will continue to waste taxpayer money.
#SB445, which would add enforceable timelines for 3rd-party building permits on transit projects, has passed out of the Senate Transportation committee with no votes against! What a great way to celebrate Earth Day, making green transportation easier and cheaper to build! TY @streetsforall.org
PG&E spent $3.6 million on lobbying last year - and frequently got its way when it took a stance on bills. Will the legislature prioritize our climate and infrastructure goals and taxpayers, or special interests when they vote on #SB445? calmatters.org/data/2025/04...
This cost estimate for Metrolink electrification is uses Caltrain costs, which can brought down significantly by #AB2503 and if we pass #SB445 this year.
The most important things advocates can do this year to make sure CAHSR succeeds:
- Reform 3rd party permits for enforceable construction permit timelines #SB445
- Fund staff capacity for NEPA self-certification
- Fully fund CAHSR via the Cap and Trade reauthorization
5. Construction permit delays from utilities. An ongoing issue plaguing the Central Valley segment even now, though not unique to CAHSR, and #SB445 would fix this. If you think CAHSR is a failure (it's not), support SB 445!
L Taraval: another project harmed by 3rd party permit delays; #SB445 would fix this.
In particular, we want to highlight #SB445, which will put a stop to utility delays that have held up California High Speed Rail, Roseville 3rd Track, AVL capacity improvements, and so many more critical rail projects around the state. bsky.app/profile/stre...
