[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6252879,"mediaKeyId","3185183-128945ab9e44d4c175e0b6f3377f3f5b","parentId",3185183,"title","Merced Boys & Girls Club asks High‑Speed Rail Authority for relocation support","audioSeconds",138,"startMs",166000,"endMs",304000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3185183-128945ab9e44d4c175e0b6f3377f3f5b&start=166&end=304","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3185183-128945ab9e44d4c175e0b6f3377f3f5b/thumbnail_166000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6252879/California/Merced-Boys-Girls-Club-asks-HighSpeed-Rail-Authority-for-relocation-support","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252879-1df4c09f27d55e3ee019de9ed1b95323/orig.mp4?Expires=1771066110&Signature=D0pUMXgNyie-Uz1TTqV00UNwNDdBNtUJg-3IzhL53TL5hPJ5rUzvqF5gYHKMsaZTOyuBwMugduTbC8kFTiaijjnLRQckWKR7zdMC08WRIs6zoz8YamejoMQiZNqZ83FnJl2O~lEi0XUBKvPJbp6NBkfWg9jyglDEc73HUmfWFJsH5LyMOqFeYGsMGO61ivF4jp~oq8GUJfvzdtV2PIRL~oGcy8cSDJ0b8zoRVlwGfXeImzsph3wFLcx-wGSp-w9kekPg9zwbNIort6EDBUCnhcz3pFwWvkus6MA0faWDxhpL74Imd-3AHqdZ5na4S7QURttE3hvwJFQ2OUS2oLCFLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","High-Speed Rail Authority","date","2025-05-01T20:50:51Z","article","At the California High‑Speed Rail Authority’s May 1 meeting, the CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Merced County asked the board to provide resources and support to relocate the club after disruption from project activities.

Cee Lee said the organization served 3,713 children and families last year, the highest number since the club’s founding in 1993, and described the relocation work as a significant disruption: “I am asking you to provide us with resources and support to relocate our boys and girls club.” She told the board the club had spent internal funds on relocation efforts and appealed to the authority’s ability to negotiate and make decisions to address the group’s needs.

Why it matters: The club serves several thousand local youth and families; relocation or disruption of its site could affect after‑school services in Merced County. Lee asked the authority to negotiate on the organization’s behalf and to provide resources rather than force legal action or public protest.

Board response and follow-up: The board acknowledged the comment; there was no formal action recorded during the meeting on the request. Staff did not provide a timeline or commitment at the time of the public comment. The speaker said she hoped the board would “make the right decision” and avoid litigation or mass protest by residents.

Public-comment context: The request came during the meeting’s public comment period and was one of several public remarks about project impacts and consultant performance. The club’s request was the only public comment at the meeting asking directly for relocation assistance from the authority.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","California High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors Meeting, May 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representing the Boys & Girls Club of Merced County, a speaker told the board the club served 3,713 people in 2024 and requested authority assistance and resources to relocate after disruption from high‑speed rail work.","taxTitle","High-Speed Rail Authority, Agencies under Office of the Governor, Executive, California","taxId",16197,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6252884,"HSR CEO outlines Wasco railhead, procurement reforms and private‑sector financing push",367,2773000,3140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3185183-128945ab9e44d4c175e0b6f3377f3f5b&start=2773&end=3140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3185183-128945ab9e44d4c175e0b6f3377f3f5b/thumbnail_2773000.jpg","/articles/6252884/California/HSR-CEO-outlines-Wasco-railhead-procurement-reforms-and-privatesector-financing-push","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252884-7e38387cc79fa154f42d01715da51302/orig.mp4?Expires=1771066110&Signature=LmOIBjcHAAKBqw~WjnZ02--lX-9jzy5k0Z584UQAD813y5L9saWQTwNl6ga2PCUHtqTDmsMbMUos9lVq~QLhaW-XGmAmv3ROCZUD47GNcTXEBIlvB2yg5V7ROJn0lhxu1zQ34K~lfNF8ZrmK7DjUytQumeaRCqTmlT-tnpXqCV~LaNIQtAc35UXUvedgXqpVJaPUL9wcEgCGRcO4GwKsACEpdDCzoAr3LHi1-Np7gDZBHyG0cXTfZw8WG22wtDBkAko1FlJpgPqc-7GmeJO2v66jpotNd9zYl9a6~Q1mAUWZLet9euGBoNKyYkOFe0M36ZD9S3LaYg0rUya~zOni9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","California High‑Speed Rail Authority CEO gave the board a high-level program update May 1, reporting work to accelerate construction by procuring materials centrally, reorganizing contracting and procurement, and pursuing private-sector investment contingent on a state financial backstop.

The authority has started construction of a railhead in Wasco, a roughly 145‑acre site intended to receive and store commoditized materials such as rail, ties, ballast and overhead contact system components. Regional director Bassim reported the Wasco site began preparatory work Jan. 15 and that the authority and partner BNSF expect to install rail on the site by about September 2025 and to receive material there in 2026; staff said the plan would enable design-build contractors to pick up materials and begin laying track sooner, with broader alignment track-laying planned for the fourth quarter of 2026.

CEO context and procurement reforms: CEO Chaudhry said buying commoditized materials directly — rather than through design-build contractor markups — could reduce material costs by an estimated 15–20% and enable faster scheduling. The authority has centralized procurements and contract administration under Emily Morrison, the newly introduced chief of contract administration. Morrison described plans to use bench IDIQ and small-business set‑aside contracts to shorten procurement lead times and provide predictable local contracting opportunities; she said bench contracts and task orders could cut procurement lead time to as low as 45 days compared with current multi‑month source selections.

Financing and private investment: The CEO said staff have engaged private-sector firms that have expressed interest in investing in the program but that private capital requires “a backstop” or state guarantee to make projects investible. He said the authority is pursuing a neutral financial plan that could include bonding against revenue streams such as cap-and-trade proceeds but stressed a need for a stable state commitment to enable private-sector financing.

Finance snapshot from the meeting: The authority’s finance update reported approximately $4.0 billion in available cash as of Feb. 28, 2025 — about $670 million from Proposition 1A and about $3.7 billion from cap-and-trade — and a pending federal State Partnership grant application for $536 million. The finance update also included construction progress statistics for the Central Valley and workforce averages.

Next steps: Staff will continue railhead construction and material procurements, implement procurement bench contracts and report back to the board; the CEO said he expects a financial approach from the state by summer to enable further private‑sector engagement.","CEO reported progress on a Wasco railhead to stock materials, procurement changes to reduce construction lead times, and outreach to private investors pending a state backstop; staff framed the steps as ways to accelerate track-laying and reduce costs.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6252889,"Board approves solicitation for Fresno Station early works; package totals $58.09 million",630,1909000,2539000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3185183-128945ab9e44d4c175e0b6f3377f3f5b&start=1909&end=2539","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3185183-128945ab9e44d4c175e0b6f3377f3f5b/thumbnail_1909000.jpg","/articles/6252889/California/Board-approves-solicitation-for-Fresno-Station-early-works-package-totals-5809-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252889-130daefa09128b3f8f398160cb25c057/orig.mp4?Expires=1771066110&Signature=k~QI6pqKHekL~N6HO6uqJ-6~Aoss9c-M1cbvzlYRU6NtDGtyj6g6nmWagNrpFFCN64oFPchHVzqZ4We799uc7Xl4IaQxES7oa4FmBy51Ct1EgNvODOllmZe9tugaMEH7bxQyWBNpuTHJjw3pz5hkSiYu3IfEnAD8NCHnThzxCrPoa1a0PGaL6XMj76MQKMQqXrvv6EEnWYc67sLJpq-Y9ELYvelxpbpPHRlukcqethI4chXs2rLiPjvU~UZo5D9jltsLDVlVhhDviiHQaYI0RuFcK9iZvCGBRKid22368qmOyyi~Em2~CAn10qXQVmKJZHVZvaT~4q6t8IxIWbrskA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The California High-Speed Rail Authority board on May 1 approved staff to solicit construction bids for an early works package at the future Fresno station and to award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with the public contract code. The package includes renovation of the historic Fresno depot, early works at the H Street entrance and early works at the G Street (Chinatown) entrance; the G Street work includes a mobility hub with transit vehicle charging, scooter and bike parking.

Staff told the board the package is funded with a mix of state and federal dollars and that the total project cost is $58,090,000. The authority estimated construction and closeout will take roughly 27 months, making the site and facilities ready for occupancy in late 2027 to early 2028.

Why it matters: The early works are intended to prepare the site for the future high-speed rail station building and related redevelopment, including seismic and ADA renovations to the historic depot, utility relocations, stormwater and paving improvements, parking and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and transit integration at the Chinatown entrance.

Board discussion and context: Directors asked about the funding split and contingency. A director noted an 80/20 federal/state split for many recent items and raised concerns about a potential roughly $40 million shortfall if federal funding failed to arrive; staff said program-wide contingency exists and that contracts include contingent-funding and termination language. Staff also noted the depot renovation is covered by a separate RAISE 2023 grant for that component.

Vote and implementation: The motion to solicit bids and to award to the lowest responsible bidder, with staff directions recorded in the meeting, passed on a roll-call vote (motion by Director Scutia, second by Director Schenck). Staff will complete solicitation documents and issue for solicitation in Q3 2025, with contract award and notice to proceed scheduled for December 2025 and a planned groundbreaking in early 2026.","The High‑Speed Rail Authority approved solicitation for construction bids and an award-to-lowest-bidder approach for a Fresno early works construction package covering a renovated historic depot, H Street and G Street (Chinatown) early works, and a Chinatown mobility hub.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6252892,"High-Speed Rail board approves $14 million move to advance Fresno station design",1234,653000,1887000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3185183-128945ab9e44d4c175e0b6f3377f3f5b&start=653&end=1887","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3185183-128945ab9e44d4c175e0b6f3377f3f5b/thumbnail_653000.jpg","/articles/6252892/California/High-Speed-Rail-board-approves-14-million-move-to-advance-Fresno-station-design","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252892-2b760e74c4f600dd58d50d2f67db3ed7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771066110&Signature=MlTWxp3cc3VvTn-O9hT7OWz2WQ8wLjHkEurYwCCa-ob0POuMiOXp5p63ggd-Da0NruQMAPoQmPG5nQN9vOz4Q3KX7UQWTpV8T8iBMrhNAURDtGY8brrcuJvXHrbBP3WXn0dEKN0tySxv24L9PrlQHSaXrOBG0a60YgBpFSo2uRfzHC67foeXT~os3Ajm5~oyU19-CeLH8d3Bd5Vh1-nyccc5zJSTZUDNK0xDyB2XBHM9rEHB79zJb014Cx5O-wUfXy~64wY0Or5TKvVi72fWlm4iL4lEHC-jz2GnVQRJ4VNBgMA~O4ZrT7QBXA~8m3fe4t048hkELlF5pLuoK~qTog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The California High-Speed Rail Authority board voted May 1 to authorize staff to issue Notice to Proceed 2 (NTP2) under the Central Valley stations design contract and to execute an initial $14,000,000 contract for final design work focused on the Fresno station and a system-wide kit of parts. The action advances design development, standard drawings and specifications the authority said are needed to produce bid-ready documents for the Fresno station.

Board members and staff said the approval narrows the authority’s focus to “right-sized” stations that meet opening-day needs and can expand later. Meg Sidoroff, the authority’s design presenter, told the board the revised work will “finalize specifications and standard drawings for the elements or the kit of parts that are shared across all of the stations,” including elevators, escalators, canopies, platforms and vertical transportation.

Why it matters: The NTP2 authorization starts the next phase of design for four Central Valley stations and is intended to keep the Fresno schedule on track so staff can complete ready-for-bid documents by winter 2026. The authority described the approach as modular — delivering a baseline station that can be expanded as ridership grows — and said the work aligns with the program baseline, scope and budget the board authorized in January 2024.

Board discussion and context: Directors pressed staff on the extent of the downsizing and the station’s functional requirements. Sidoroff said engineers, rail operations staff and the early train operator (Deutsche Bahn) reviewed requirements and that the team reduced some track spacing and removed certain tracks that would be unnecessary for early decades of operation. “We are designing, to your words, bare bones. I would say it's all of the components we need for safe, comfortable, code compliant passenger rail service,” Sidoroff said when asked about the scope.

Directors also raised federal funding risk. One director asked what would happen if expected federal grant funds did not arrive; staff replied the contracts include contingent-funding and termination language and that program-wide contingency exists to cover shortfalls. Staff said it will return to the board if it identifies a funding risk that requires a policy decision.

Vote and next steps: The board approved the NTP2 authorization and initial $14,000,000 contract. Staff said the authorization enables initiation of kit-of-parts work and Fresno design development; staff will return to the board as the program baseline is updated and additional funding is identified. The board recorded its vote by roll call.","The California High-Speed Rail Authority board approved issuing Notice to Proceed 2 (NTP2) under the Central Valley stations design contract, advancing final design and a kit-of-parts for the Fresno station with an initial $14 million authorization.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Merced Boys & Girls Club asks High‑Speed Rail Authority for relocation support

HSR CEO outlines Wasco railhead, procurement reforms and private‑sector financing push

Board approves solicitation for Fresno Station early works; package totals $58.09 million

High-Speed Rail board approves $14 million move to advance Fresno station design