Californians for Electric Rail

Transit advocates, environmentalists, and union members fighting for fast, clean catenary electric rail in California.
@calelectricrail on all platforms

[Californians for Electric Rail @calelectricrail]

Periodic reminder: we are mostly posting on Bluesky these days. If you would like to get the most current updates on zero emissions rail or stay involved with reforms to accelerate rail electrification, please find us there, where management is less hostile to transit and HSR.

[Californians for Electric Rail @calelectricrail]

Read it here: https://t.co/2M7nkj1S2c

[Californians for Electric Rail @calelectricrail]

Want more background on these recommendations? Read our new whitepaper, Against Patchwork Funding, to learn more about how competitive partial awards create delays and cost escalations, and how low-cost countries fund rail infrastructure.

[Californians for Electric Rail @calelectricrail]

During Cap and Trade Reauthorization, we're calling on the legislature to:
1. Pilot a multi-year investment framework to fund the State Rail Plan
2. Guarantee a minimum of $1 B/year for High Speed Rail
3. Eliminate free allowances to make polluters pay & increase C&T revenue 🧵

[Californians for Electric Rail @calelectricrail]

You can read our full letter to the legislature here: https://t.co/uDIoyWKbpt

[Californians for Electric Rail @calelectricrail]

During Cap and Trade Reauthorization, we're calling on the legislature to:
1. Pilot a multi-year investment framework to fund the State Rail Plan
2. Guarantee a minimum of $1 B/year for High Speed Rail
3. Eliminate free allowances to make polluters pay & increase C&T revenue 🧵

[Californians for Electric Rail @calelectricrail]

Streamlining and setting priorities for transit funding is a virtuous cycle. Not only does it create cost savings and speed up projects, the resulting accountability and success stories will increase political support for transit funding and help us win more investments.

[Californians for Electric Rail @calelectricrail]

The Trump Administration has released its report revoking funding for California High Speed Rail. Their legal case is on shaky grounds, and CA will win. Here's how to shore up the future of High Speed Rail:
- Guarantee $ 1B/year in funding from Cap and Trade
- Pass #SB445!

[Californians for Electric Rail @calelectricrail]

67% of voters and 80% of Democrats support California High Speed Rail. Now's the time to guarantee funding for high speed rail, build the tunnels to LA, and finish the line. Trump can't stop this train! https://t.co/uIlMSpSysa

[Californians for Electric Rail @calelectricrail]

Californians are already reaping the benefits of CA High Speed Rail: electric Caltrain, SF's Central Subway, and LA's Regional Connector. Projects like The Portal in SF, LinkUS in LA, Metrolink electrification, and inland rail to San Diego all need CA to #FinishTheLine.

[Californians for Electric Rail @calelectricrail]

California can't afford to *not* build High Speed Rail. CA High Speed Rail will save the state $100 billion on airport and highway investments - not including the steep economic costs of air pollution and climate change. #FundHSR

[Californians for Electric Rail @calelectricrail]

We can help fix this this year! Cap and Trade reauthorization this year can guarantee consistent funding for the project, and the HSR Authority has a plan to supplement that with private funding that can get high speed rail built faster. #FundHSR https://t.co/hlXwEW85AB

[Californians for Electric Rail @calelectricrail]

California High Speed Rail has had real issues, many of them common to other transportation infrastructure projects, but one of its biggest obstacles has been insufficient funding. Read this deep dive for more of the story: https://t.co/weQTzDYseV

[Californians for Electric Rail @calelectricrail]

The initial bond approved by voters assumed federal funding that never fully materialized. Lawsuits delayed spending the bond. CAHSR didn't have a consistent state funding until 2014. The state didn't allocate bond $ from 2018-2021. CAHSR has never had the resources it needs.