High-speed rail agency ordered to reach more minority businesses

The California High-Speed Rail Authority was ordered Thursday to greatly expand its outreach to and inclusion of small and disadvantaged businesses, concluding a civil rights complaint filed last year with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

According to the decision released by federal officials, the rail authority -– which is tasked with building an ambitious high-speed line from San Francisco to Southern California that could cost as much as $65 billion -– must create a development program for small and disadvantaged businesses, specify an officer in charge, compile a directory of all firms that are eligible to participate, and create a business advisory council within 60 days.

The rail authority must also conduct an availability and disparity study within one year, according to a copy of Thursday's decision from the Federal Railroad Administration.

"We're very pleased with the decision," said Oren Sellstrom, an attorney with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area. "It's a complete vindication of what the minority business community has been saying."