City of Commerce, CA (Jan. 28, 2010) – California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority Curt Pringle met in the City of Commerce today to announce a $2.25 billion award from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for California’s high-speed intercity rail systems.

The award is the largest for high-speed train funding of any state.  The following is a statement from Chairman Pringle.

“This award is fantastic news for California and for our state’s high-speed rail project. It is an award that will lead to the creation of tens of thousands of quality jobs in the near-term and to continued economic strength and enhance our transportation network in the long term.

“This award will go toward specific projects, but it will benefit every single section of our planned high-speed rail system by moving this entire vision closer to reality – closer to being the first true high-speed rail system in the United States.

“California’s success in winning a significant portion of this federal funding, for which there was tremendous competition, is a tribute to our partnerships with our Legislature, with local governments, and to the hard work and leadership of Governor Schwarzenegger and California’s senators and congressional delegation. A California high-speed rail system truly gives each of us the opportunity to change the future of California for our children and grandchildren.”

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