The US Department of Transportation has given a grant of nearly US$202 million to an ongoing solar-powered high-speed rail project in California.

The funding will support the construction of six grade separations in Shafter, Kern County. These separations will vertically separate roads from existing and future railways, preventing accidents and enhancing traffic flow. The grant, part of the 2022 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements program, aims to facilitate high-speed rail travel in California.

Phase 1 will connect San Francisco to Los Angeles in under three hours, with speeds exceeding 200 miles per hour. Phase 2 will extend the route to Sacramento and San Diego. The railway will be powered by solar energy, utilizing a solar farm on 445 acres of owned land. Currently, 119 miles are under construction across 25 sites in the Central Valley, with plans to expand it to 171 miles. California has covered 85% of the project's costs so far.