NEWS RELEASE from USHSR 30th May 2012

USHSR APPLAUDS THE APPOINTMENT OF JEFF MORALES AS CEO OF THE CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY


                                                                        
Washington, DC - The US High Speed Rail Association (USHSR) commends the California High Speed Rail Authority for the appointment of its new CEO - Jeff Morales, a former head of Caltrans, and senior executive with Parsons Brinckerhoff, the project manager for the high speed rail system.  Parsons Brinckerhoff is a member of the US High Speed Rail Association.  This announcement follows the important recent appointment of Dan Richard to head the Authority board. 

"USHSR commends the California High Speed Rail Authority and its selection of Mr. Morales to lead the project though the difficult stages ahead," said USHSR president Andy Kunz.  "This really puts the state's ambitious high speed rail project on solid footing with two exceptional individuals now in leadership positions to take the project from the design phase into construction.  Together with Dan Richard, Jeff Morales knows and understands the politics and people at the local, state, and federal level to get the job done," added Kunz.

 Dan Richard was equally pleased with the appointment saying:  "Jeff Morales is exactly the right person to take the helm at this pivotal time and capitalize on the positive momentum that has built up over the last several months. This board was deeply impressed by his extensive experience in large and complex transportation issues and projects on the local, state, federal and international levels."  U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was also happy with the appointment calling Morales a "vital asset" to the project.

 USHSR held an important national high speed rail conference last week in San Francisco where Dan Richard outlined the new rail project. Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke about the importance of getting it built and staying competitive with other nations who have high speed rail. Other speakers expressed the many benefits the rail system will deliver to the people of California, the proven successes around the world, private investment interest, and the profitability of high speed rail.

 "Dan Richard's presentation at our conference last week gave everyone a new sense of confidence in the project," said USHSR's Kunz. "CA HSR is a special project of national significance, and the most important HSR project in the history of America. It's the largest and most advanced high speed rail project in the nation with widespread public and business support, and once completed will be one of the busiest and most profitable rail lines in the world," added Kunz.

Recent polls show over 88% of Americans support high speed rail. California stands to benefit in many ways from this project including delivering a fast new high-capacity form of transportation not subject to congestion and delays; de-congesting the state's freeways and airports making them function better; creating millions of new permanent jobs; saving energy; helping to meet the state's clean air mandates; and stimulating new real estate development state-wide.

 Videos of conference presentations of Dan Richard, Nancy Pelosi, and others can now be viewed at www.ushsr.com

  


For more information on the US High Speed Rail Association:  www.ushsr.com

Conference Presentations:  http://www.ushsr.com/info/conferencevideos.html