New York, NY – A 171-mile stretch of rail that is currently being built in California in the Central Valley region, is set to bring dramatic changes to the region, as early as 2030. It will run between Merced and Bakersfield, and has become a reality due to being an infrastructure project that has received tens of billions of dollars in state and federal funding. Ultimately, there is a plan to extend the line to Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Although there has been opposition to the project, notable from the area’s farm interests, as it has traditionally been a heavily farmed region, along with conservative interests who have joined their cause, the economic benefits are undeniable. More people could become residents of the area, where there is access to affordable housing, non-farm jobs will be created, and other benefits such as healthcare availability in an underserved area may become a reality.
Republican Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer is on board. He says that high-speed rail between Fresno and the Central Valley, and then the rest of the state, will bring the game-changer of connecting the areas with the California economy.
Although the economic benefits, as well as the boon to future passengers, are at the top of the list in terms of wins for the Central Valley, and, if what is envisioned comes to pass, other parts of the state, the project will also bring important advantages to those who those who are designated “disadvantaged,” offering them jobs based on a variety of factors.
The project has created over 10,000 construction jobs, most going to workers who reside in the area. LaborPress was able to find out more from Toni Tinoco, Central Valley Deputy Regional Director for the California High-Speed Rail, regarding workers on the job, union involvement, the benefits this project is bringing to various categories of those in disadvantaged communities, and more.
LP: How many unions are working on the project?
TT: Based on our Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) established in 2014, there are 35 unions signed on and eligible to work on the California High-Speed Rail project. Unions may have multiple branches based on the area in which they represent. You can find a list of the signatories in our Community Benefits Agreement at https://hsr.ca.gov/business-opportunities/general-info/community-benefitsagreement/. The Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) is designed to assist small businesses and job seekers in finding or obtaining construction contracts, jobs, and training opportunities for residents who live in disadvantaged areas. The CBA supports employment of individuals who reside in disadvantaged areas and those designated as “disadvantaged workers,” including veterans; it also helps remove potential barriers for small businesses participation. We also recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of our agreement.
LP: Which unions are working on the project?
TT: Some of the most common workers on the project include Ironworkers, Carpenters, Laborers, Operators, and Masons. A number of unions are eligible to work on the project ranging from Asbestos Workers to Roofers & Waterproofers, and more.
LP: Who are some of the communities that will be or are being benefitted through the project?
TT: More than 70 percent of the more than 12,400 jobs created have gone back to residents in Central Valley counties such as Fresno, Kern, Kings, Tulare, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus, Mariposa and San Joaquin counties. In addition, in 2009 the Authority received $2.5 billion in funds through the American Recover and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). These funds were contingent upon starting work in the Central Valley, given it is a historically economically disadvantaged part of the state, and host to some of the worst air quality in the entire country, according to the American Lung Association. Central Valley construction has helped these disadvantaged areas by creating good paying construction jobs for the local community, bolstering the local economies, while simultaneously practicing greener and cleaner construction methods. You can find more information about how the project is bringing billions of dollars in economic benefits in our 2023 Economic Impact Analysis Report. A summary can be found on our fact sheet here https://hsr.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Agenda-Item-4-FY2022-23- Economic-Impact-Analysis-Fact-Sheet-011824-A11Y.pdf and the full report can be found here https://hsr.ca.gov/programs/economic-investment/.
LP: How many of those are women/minority owned?
TT: The Authority has a robust small business program and is committed to supporting small, disadvantaged, disabled veteran and women owned businesses participation on the project. You can find our most recent metrics regarding Small Business Participation on our Small Business Dashboard here https://hsr.ca.gov/business-opportunities/smallbusiness-program/.
LP: How does the term “disadvantaged” intersect with race/gender/those with disabilities/union membership?
TT: Our CBA defines a “disadvantaged” worker as an individual who resides in an economically disadvantaged area or extremely economically disadvantaged area and faces at least one of the following barriers to employment: being a veteran, being homeless, being a custodial single parent, receiving public assistance, lacking a GED or high school diploma, having a criminal record or involvement with the criminal justice system, suffering chronic unemployment, or being emancipated from the foster care system. The Community Benefits Agreement supports employment of individuals who reside in disadvantaged areas and those designated as “disadvantaged workers,” including veterans; it also helps remove potential barriers for small businesses participation. As detailed in the resources for the Community Benefits Agreement above:
An Economically Disadvantaged Area means a zip code that includes a census tract or portion thereof in which the median annual household income is between $32,000 and $40,000 per year, as measured and reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in the 2010 U.S. Census and as updated upon the U.S. Census Bureau issuing updated Median Annual Household Income data by census tract in the American Community Survey. An Extremely Economically Disadvantaged Area means a zip code that includes a census tract or portion thereof in which the median annual household income is less than $32,000 per year, as measured and reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in the 2010 U.S. Census and as updated upon the U.S. Census Bureau issuing updated Median Annual Household Income data by census tract in the American Community Survey.
LP: As the work proceeds, union workers such as Ironworkers, Carpenters, Laborers, Operators, and Masons, Asbestos Workers, Roofers & Waterproofers, and more, those who live in disadvantaged areas and are seeking jobs and training in construction and other trades, will be supported in Labor’s goal: a secure foothold into the middle-class, with fair wages and benefits, while being a part of creating a larger economic good, and a rail system that will revolutionize travel for passengers.
