Welcome

In November 2008, voters approved Proposition 1A, which authorized the state to issue  $9 billion dollars in bonds to build a new High-Speed Rail system for California.

Californians Advocating Responsible Rail Design (CARRD) is a network that initially formed in response to community concerns about the  project.

We value transparency, accountability and oversight and believe local communities should be partners in designing transportation projects. We work to ensure that the public’s interests are upheld and that all facets of the California High Speed Rail project follow both the spirit and letter of the law.

We do this by encouraging civic engagement, providing indepth and relevant  information, and advocating for changes in how projects are planned.

New!

5/14/2013 We are again struggling to get public records from the Authority

5/11/2013  Monthly Progress Reports through February 2013 and Regional Consultant Progress Reports through March are now posted

5/9/2013 Links to the California High Speed Rail Authority’s legal authority have been added

1/9/2013 Regional Consultant Progress Reports are posted through October 2012.

1/9/2013 Monthly Progress Reports through October 2012 by the High Speed Rail Authority’s program manager, Parsons Brinckerhoff.

7/4/2012 Bond appropriations for HSR:  What is proposed and are they legal?

6/1/2012    The blended system can deliver 2 hour 40 minute travel times:  Fact or fantasy?  Read the source documents we used.

10/25/2011 EIR Comment Letters from various stakeholders in response to the High Speed Rail Authority’s environmental reviews.

10/20/2011 Reports to the Legislature by the California High Speed Rail Authority on funding alternatives, blended service from San Francisco to San Jose, Grapevine communications plan, along with CARRD’s analysis.

7/29/2011  CARRD has received, through a Public Records Request, some of the correspondence between the Ridership Peer Review Panel and the Authority. You can read the correspondence here. For more information, please visit our Ridership page.

7/28/11 CARRD is happy to report that we have finally received a copy of the first report from the Ridership Peer Review Committee which is available here.  For more information, please visit our Ridership page. We have been promised via email a CD by the end of the week with the communications between the Authority and the Ridership Peer Review Committee.

7/27/11 CARRD sends letter to HSRA board outlining failure to respond to Public Records Requests. Our letter to the Board is available here. For more information, see our Ridership page.

7/15/11 July 1 2011 letter from the California High Speed Rail Peer Review Group in response to a critical report by the LAO

5/5/11 Letter from the Peer Review Group to the HSRA with an initial response on the materials presented at their April 1 workshop.

3/2/11  Letter from Legislature to Van Ark asking Authority to respond to the Independent Peer Review’s concerns in their new draft business plan due October 14, 2011.

2/28/2011 Ridership Peer Review Committee Presentation 1/10/2011 made by CEO van Ark on January 20th, 2011

2/9/2011 What will the High Speed Rail cost? Our current estimate is $65 billion, a big difference from the official $43 billion number.  Why so different?

1/20/2011 CHSRA’s Technical Memos which CARRD is in an ongoing process of obtaining through a series of Public Records Requests. These are guidelines which ensure that early designs for each section are consistent and compatible.

1/11/2011  Monthly Progress Reports by the High Speed Rail Authority’s program manager, Parsons Brinckerhoff.

12/6/2010 Read the November 2010 report by the California High Speed Rail Authority Peer Review Committee

**NEW as of 11/29/2010**  Read our preview of the December California High Speed Rail Board Meeting

**NEW as of 11/24/2010**  Read the issues with “Plan B”

**NEW as of 11/4/2010**  Board members have been receiving gifts from contractors in violation of board policy. Read our report, see the evidence.

**NEW as of 9/28/2010**  Two High Speed Rail Board Members Hold Incompatible Offices. Go to our complete coverage page or read the Legislative Counsel’s Opinion (PDF) or read the Attorney General’s warning letter to the High Speed Rail Authority (PDF) or read our FAQ/Timeline (PDF)

**NEW as of 9/27/2010** The High Speed Rail Authority conducted a messaging survey.  Go to our complete coverage page with survey results and our analysis.