The California High Speed Rail project is required to be reviewed by an Independent Peer Review Committee as part of Prop 1A. This is an important safeguard in the bond measure.
The Committee’s review of the California High Speed Rail Authority’s “Funding Plan” on January 3, 2012 can be viewed here. This was issued in accordance with state law 60 days after the submittal of a funding plan for initial construction. The funding plan can be viewed here.
The Committee’s third report, addressed to State Senator Alan Lowenthal (in response to the May 2011 LAO report) on July 1, 2011, can be viewed here.
The Committee’s second report, addressed to Mr. van Ark on May 2, 2011, can be viewed here.
The Committee’s first report, issued on November 18, 2010, can be viewed here.
For more about the Independent Peer Review Committee, click here.
In addition to the Independent Peer Review Committee, the Authority has been signing Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with various entities in the hope of exchanging information about high speed train systems around the world. Specifically, the Authority intends to “share and exchange information relative to high speed rail, including aspects of technology, standards, funding, planning as well as operations and maintenance, amongst other things.”
In the fall of 2010, the Authority asked Amtrak and various foreign operators to participate in a peer review that “would entail reviewing and commenting on documentation supplied by the Authority, with the aim to ensure that the operation and maintenance concepts as envisioned by the Authority are logical and feasible and would not result in limitations to the operations if you should possibly operate the system on behalf of the Authority at a later date.”
Correspondence relating to Operations and Maintenance Peer Review
Amtrak
Belgium
China
France
Expression of interest from Consul General
Response from French Transportation Department
Germany
Italy
Expression of interest from Consul General
Japan
Response from the East Japan Railway Company
Spain
Expression of Interest from RENFE