The dream of a high-speed rail network capable of whisking passengers from the Bay Area to Los Angeles took a large step forward on Thursday as the California High-Speed Rail Authority approved the last major environmental hurdle for the project's phase one. The 38-mile span from Palmdale to Burbank had been the final stretch in the San Francisco to L.A. route without clearance, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
The newly approved segment includes approximately 30 miles of tunnels, which generates concern for its potential during an earthquake, given that it winds through some of California's most seismic terrain. The rail authority CEO Brian Kelly told the board, "We are at a very preliminary stage of design only for environmental purposes," according to the San Francisco Chronicle. As he put it, the next steps involve advancing the design work to understand and address the construction challenges ahead.
This momentous approval means that environmental clearance has been obtained for 463 miles of the proposed 494-mile "Phase 1" high-speed rail system, as described by KTLA. The remaining portion, stretching from Los Angeles to Anaheim, is anticipated to receive approval by next year, completing the environmental review process for the entire initial phase.
While obtaining environmental approval marks a significant step, actual construction dates within Los Angeles County remain in the air. The focus remains on Central Valley's "Initial Operating Segment", which connects Merced to Bakersfield. With 119 miles of that part already under construction, the rail authority aims to lengthen this zone to 171 miles, and it's set to be operational by the early 2030s. This information, provided by KTLA, highlights the project's ongoing progress and complex logistics.
Kelly, who will retire later this year as CEO, hailed the environmental approval as a major milestone in a press release, emphasizing the transformative potential for Los Angeles County by connecting Palmdale to Burbank in a new, unprecedented way. "It’s also transformational for Los Angeles County, connecting Palmdale to Burbank in a way that’s never been possible before,” Kelly said. The Palmdale station will be situated at an existing transit center, and the Burbank station is set to be an underground facility at the Hollywood Burbank Airport, currently undergoing major renovations expected to be completed by 2026. In an update from KTLA, officials claim the journey between the two stations would take around 20 minutes, with express trains performing the trip even faster.
