Workers planting trees
The High Speed Rail Authority continues to use the cleanest equipment available to reduce its emissions, plant trees near the rail line to sequester carbon, and create jobs to provide opportunities and job skills to disadvantaged workers.
Reducing and offsetting GHG emissions is a priority for high-speed rail construction. The project is one of the top ranked sustainable rail infrastructure projects in North America by the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark Infrastructure Assessment, thanks to prioritizing transit-oriented development, job creation, clean construction practices, and sustainable future operations.
In addition, the Authority is working with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Urban Forestry program to offset some of the GHG emissions associated with construction. To date, more than 4,000 trees have been planted in disadvantaged communities near the rail line.
The Authority also prioritizes minimizing the effects of its construction on the environment. Currently, the Authority is working with stakeholders such as the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority to prepare wildlife crossings and other mitigation methods, so that local wildlife can freely move throughout the area without being impacted by rail operations.
Creating jobs and economic opportunities is a major priority for the Authority. As of October 2019, the Authority has commissioned work from 523 California small business firms, including 176 Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, helping small businesses play a significant role in the program.
The Authority also promotes jobs that benefit disadvantaged areas through the execution of Community Benefits Agreements. As of December 2019, more than 3,549 workers had been deployed across the 119 miles of construction in the Central Valley,” said Journeyman Carpenter Indalecio Osegueda. “I’ve got an 11-year old, 7‑year old, and a newborn. I don’t know where I would be if I wasn’t here doing this.”
Workers at a High-Speed Rail construction site