California's high-speed rail makes inaugural voyage

Passengers traveled the first run of the expanded route.

Editor's note: This reflects an optimistic look forward at one of California's most capital-intensive transportation projects.

FRESNO, Calif. (Feb. 23, 2028) -- The sleek train pulled into the depot on H and Mariposa streets like it has the past several years.

The whistle blew. Passengers disembarked. Some met warmly with family, and a few others hurried to their destinations in this Central San Joaquin Valley city. But most remained aboard, smiling from the windows at the crowd gathered at the station.

A porter hefted baggage and answered questions, while the station manager quietly met with the train's passenger director and several high-ranking officials from the California High-Speed Rail Authority. Previous runs have been limited to Fresno and Bakersfield and more recently to Merced.

They wanted the trip to be flawless. It is the first time the train, which can reach speeds in excess of 200 mph, has taken passengers along its entire 520-mile length, from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

"Today is a significant milestone and caps 14 years of world-class construction," said Authority CEO Jeff Morales, who earlier this month signaled plans to retire. "We had some bumps along the way, but our design-build approach and top-flight contractors did a fantastic job. Their work won us a lot of believers."


Former California Treasurer Kathleen Brown, younger sister of former Gov. Jerry Brown, addressed those at the Fresno depot. "My brother would have been so proud," she said, at times pausing to regain her voice. She wiped away tears several times. "He championed this rail project. Gov. Brown used to say despite its cost, rail is cheaper and cleaner than building more highways and airports. And he's right. Electric cars have taken the state by storm, and polls say residents will embrace high-speed rail for more distant destinations."

The project came in under budget at $65 billion largely because of technological advances and construction innovations, surprising critics. Many credit Morales with guiding the project to its successful conclusion.

"Jeff's determined leadership made all this reality," said Dan Richard, former Authority Board Chair. Richard booked a seat on the train's first voyage. "I'm just glad I got to go along for the ride."

Construction already has begun on additional track that will expand the route to Sacramento and San Diego. Currently the line ends at the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center, or ARTIC. The expansion will take the line to 800 miles.

The electrification of California's automobiles added to public support of the rail project. The limited range of electric vehicles, although it has increased over the years, means most owners use their cars for local transportation and prefer other methods to get elsewhere in the state. The competitive price of a train ticket made these e-car drivers, as they have become known, a major early market.

Authority officials said bookings have exceeded initial estimates. However, additional train cars have been purchased to accommodate the traffic, they said. All the new cars feature wi-fi and electric outlets at every seat.

Predictions of economic development following completion of the high-speed rail line also appear to be showing evidence of merit. Several start-up companies have announced plans to build operations in Fresno, and existing Valley high-tech enterprises have added hundreds of workers.

"Living in the Valley is considered by many young people as a positive now," said Kashmir Khan, president of Power Brokers. "We don't have to recruit. We have people calling us from Los Angeles. They want to get away from traffic."

Khan's company installs battery systems in homes and businesses that complement solar arrays and enable its clients to go off-grid. Power Brokers expects to make its initial public offering in coming weeks. Experts expect it to raise millions.

Air quality in the Valley has improved significantly in recent years. Regulatory changes by the California Air Resources Board for big trucks and an overall change in driving habits has cut pollution levels and cleared the smog from the skies in many Valley cities.

Not everyone shared in the optimism for the project. Frank Olivera, co-chairman of Citizens for California High-Speed Rail Accountability and a long-time opponent, said the project was completed at the expense of hundreds of private property owners. He also said the project hasn't yet proved itself financially viable and could burden California taxpayers with even more bond debt.

"The California High-Speed Rail Authority remains riddled with weaknesses, inadequacies, absudities, and failures to comply with the law," he said.