California is at a crossroads. On the one hand, California’s leaders can continue business as usual, creating more of the same problems. Or, California can take a bold, new direction, leading the nation toward a future that positively impacts its people, economy and environment for generations to come. We, the young voters of California, who will be impacted most by these decisions, call on our political leaders to stand up for the young generations of this great State and recognize, once and for all, that it’s time for high-speed rail (HSR) in California.

Besides saving money in the long run, HSR will create thousands of jobs for Californians, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality by taking cars off the road, and will connect Californians like never before.

We, the young voters of California, believe that we are worth investing in. As the living legacy of the current generations, we will push the boundaries of connectivity, technology, and sustainability. We will not only fill, but create the jobs of the future. Our numbers will continue to grow, and we will place even more demand on the State’s aging infrastructure. More runways and more freeways will wipe out even more of our valuable open-space and produce greater congestion. Simply doing more of the same isn’t an option.

California voters approved Proposition 1A in 2008 which authorized the State to issue $9.95 billion to partially fund the 800-mile HSR system that would connect Southern California to Northern California through the Central Valley. Now, a group of legislators want to block the state from issuing those bonds that voters approved, claiming that high speed rail is a bad idea. California is in dire need of modern infrastructure that will boost our economy and will not perpetuate the unsustainable practice of simply adding more lanes to our highways.

It is with this understanding that we ask that our political leaders move forward with the bond issuance for high-speed rail in California. We understand the benefits of this project and are willing to pay the cost, which in the long term will be less than if we were to continue on the path we are on now. We believe in our future. We believe that our lives will be better if those with the ability to make decisions on our behalf believe in us too.

High-speed rail isn’t just a dream. It’s our generation, our train, our future.