Arup wins deal to manage California high-speed rail sustainability programme

Image: California High-Speed Rail Authority

Consultancy Arup has won a deal to manage the sustainability programme for the California high-speed rail project.

The rail line, which is has seen its budget balloon to US$128 billion, is eventually set to run between Los Angeles and San Francisco in under three hours.

Arup claimed that the scheme would be the most sustainable infrastructure project in the nation, providing an alternative to one of the busiest short haul flight paths in the United States.

It said that the line would save an estimated 62,000 annual airplane trips, and take an estimated 400,000 cars off the road annually.

As sustainability programme manager, Arup is leading a team of 12 consultants to support the delivery of sustainability services along the entire 500-mile route.

Key tasks will include renewable energy modelling and procurement, climate change adaptation and resilience, setting sustainable design criteria, managing greenhouse gas and air quality emissions, carbon offsetting, and sustainability reporting.

The new high-speed rail line will be designed to operate with 100% renewable energy, with an estimated capacity of 1.9 million MWh per year supported by solar power and battery storage systems.

Arup will also be conducting hazard analysis and developing resilient design approaches to mitigate climate change–related risks.

Margaret Cederoth, director of planning and sustainability at Arup said, “We are excited to have Arup support the delivery of this ambitious project and help maintain our focus on setting a standard for sustainable infrastructure. We are eager deliver the backbone of sustainable transportation for California.”

The full project team comprises Arellano, BASE, Bio Studio, Build Momentum, Convey, ERP, GlobalASR, ICF, OMCI, Polytechnique, Strategen, and Terraverde.