California’s High-Speed Rail may still be in progress, but its construction is already providing long-lasting benefits to local workers and families. The project has opened a door to new career opportunities for many Central Valley workers. Those opportunities will only expand further once high-speed trains can transport daily commuters from the Central Valley to high-paying jobs in the state’s largest cities.
The High-Speed Rail Project is investing in historically disadvantaged communities through the Central Valley Training Center (CVTC), a pre-apprenticeship program aimed at providing student with hands-on training and preparation for a career in construction. CVTC was established in 2020 to address impacts from the high-speed rail project on disadvantaged communities and help maximize local job opportunities. The 10-week training program at CVTC is provided at no cost to students. During the program, students learn the essential skills for electrical wiring, dry wall installation, plumbing, cement masonry, carpentry, roofing, and work on sheet metal. When they graduate from the program, students come away with eight certifications to add to their resumes. Graduates can also get assistance with their job search for one year after completing the program.
Central Valley Training Center (https://hsr.ca.gov/jobs/ )
Alan Lara, a graduate of the Central Valley Training Center, spoke highly of the program, saying “I’ve always wanted to be a blue-collar worker. I like working with my hands and building stuff. This program helped me learn about the trades, how to work on a team, be disciplined and determined. With the certificates I earned and new skills I developed, I am excited to enter the workforce and start my career.”
Since construction began, the high-speed rail project has created over 16,100 construction jobs, with around 74 percent of hours going to Central Valley residents, many from disadvantaged communities. High-speed rail investments have also produced about $22 billion in economic output, with $9.6 billion directly benefiting Central Valley and disadvantaged communities.
The high-speed rail project is helping shape careers for a more sustainable future through both its workforce development and commitment to sustainability in construction of the rail system. Project leaders have been diligent in minimizing the environmental impact of construction, using advanced construction equipment, planting trees at construction sites, and diverting 95 percent of all construction waste from landfills to date.
High-Speed Rail Economic Benefits to Disadvantaged Communities within Central Valley Counties (Fiscal Year 2023-2024)
In Fresno, the California High-Speed Rail Authority is also leveraging $20 million in federal resilience grants to provide downtown and Chinatown with public high-speed EV charging stations in new plazas and green spaces, making owning a zero-emission or hybrid vehicle in the Central Valley much more convenient even as construction of the rail line is still underway.
Once California’s high-speed rail system is complete, it will form the backbone for the state’s zero-emission transit network, driving economic development, drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and transforming travel for residents across the state. Even once construction is completed, Central Valley residents will find that high-speed rail expands employment opportunities by increasing accessibility and decreasing travel times for residents. A more convenient and safer mode of transport to major economic centers, like Silicon Valley and Southern California, will allow residents from farther away access new job opportunities, increasing the pool of talent for employers and providing higher-quality, better-fitting jobs for employees.
California’s High-Speed Rail project represents a meaningful opportunity for families, businesses, and workers across the state. The project has already delivered significant economic and workforce benefits to the Central Valley and is poised to transform the state’s options for long-distance travel and daily commuting. As the nation’s first true high-speed rail project, its vision is people-centered, aiming to uplift communities across the state through innovation and job creation during construction and upon completion of the project.