Quentin Kopp, Chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, Receives “Champion of Infrastructure Award”

High-Speed Rail Chairman Named One of “World’s Most Significant Infrastructure
Leaders” at Global Infrastructure Forum in Washington D.C.
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
Judge Quentin Kopp, Chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, was
named a “Champion of Infrastructure” today by CG/LA Infrastructure LLC, the
world leader in strategic infrastructure project identification and development.

Kopp was recognized as one of five Global Forum Champions at the 2nd Annual
Global Infrastructure Leadership Forum in Washington DC where the world’s
largest infrastructure projects and the people behind those projects gathered.
Other champions recognized at the event come from Russia, Mexico, Brazil and Abu
Dhabi.

"These infrastructure champions are the men and women who are going to build us
out of our current difficulties -- the people with the vision, the drive, the
imagination and the persistence to get things done, around the world," said
Norman Anderson, President & CEO of CG/LA Infrastructure and the Global
Infrastructure Leadership Forum.

Not only has Kopp shepherded development of California's high-speed system as
chairman of the Authority, he led the campaign that this past November won
approval of California voters for a $9 billion bond investment in America's
first fully dedicated high-speed train system, capable of speeds up to 220 miles
per hour.

Judge Kopp, who addressed the forum, stated: “America’s first high-speed train
system will honor the spirit and build upon the hard work of those who created
California’s pioneering transportation system decades ago. Now our task is to
meet the transportation and economic needs of the next generation. Our vision is
to reduce traffic congestion, protect our environment and jumpstart our economy
to the tune of half a million new jobs."

Kopp noted that in addition to providing our economy with an immediate shot in
the arm, the high-speed train system will cost two to three times less than
expanding freeways and airports to accommodate the expected millions of new
Californians by the year 2030.

The Global Forum is an infrastructure marketplace, bringing the Top 100 global
projects together with 500-600 infrastructure executives -- from finance,
policy, engineering/construction, and equipment/technology. Participating
countries include the US, Brazil, Russia, India, China, infrastructure hot spots
like Vietnam, and key countries in the Middle East and Africa.

Projects receiving a focus at the Forum span 17 countries, and 8 sectors,
including ports & logistics ($24 billion); oil & gas ($37 billion); strategic
($48 billion); water & wastewater ($5 billion); electricity generation ($6
billion); urban mass transit ($45 billion); digital infrastructure ($3.7
billion); and highways ($6 billion). The total estimated project value will be
$175 to $200 billion.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority is responsible for building high-speed
train service covering 800 miles at speeds over 220 MPH. Voters approved
Proposition 1A on the November 2008 ballot putting a down paymenton what will be
America’s first high-speed train system.By linking all major cities in
California with a state of the art new transportation option, California's
high-speed train system will increase mobility while cutting air pollution and
reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.Building the
high-speed train system will cost less than half the cost of freeway and
aviation alternatives. Operating the system will create an annual surplus of
over $1 billion.

For route information, visual simulations and more, please visit
www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov.

For California High-Speed Rail Authority
Kris Deutschman, 916-444-8801
Cell: 916-425-7174
Dan Ronayne, 202-870-4902 (D.C.)

Copyright Business Wire 2008