LOS ANGELES On Thursday, January 20, the California High-Speed Rail Authority approved a final Environmental Impact Report for a 14-mile stretch of the project connecting Burbank and Los Angeles. This will bring the region closer to high-speed rail service that will eventually connect Los Angeles with San Francisco.
With the board clearing the way for the Burbank to Los Angeles section, nearly 300 miles of the project’s 500 mile Phase 1 alignment from San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim has been approved, according to the authority.
“Today’s approval represents a historic milestone and brings us closer to providing the first high-speed rail system in the United States,” said Authority CEO Brian Kelly.
“We appreciate the continued support and collaboration with local and regional agencies and stakeholders as we work together to improve transportation in California.”
The route chosen would use an existing rail corridor that runs parallel to the Los Angeles River, from a new Hollywood Burbank Airport Station to Glendale and Los Angeles Union Station.
In April and June, the board will review approvals for the San Jose-Merced and San Francisco-San Jose sections. The board hopes to complete the environmental review for the entire Phase 1 system, which will run from San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim, by 2023.
According to the authority, there are 119 miles of construction at 35 active construction sites within the Central Valley. This project has created more than 7,000 construction jobs.
The authority also praised the project’s potential to improve California’s air quality, reduce congestion and increase mobility.
