60% of Phase 1 System now Environmentally Cleared from San Francisco to Los Angeles, Anaheim and Anaheim
January 20, 2022
LOS ANGELESToday, the California High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors unanimously approved and signed the Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS), for the approximately 14-mile Burbank-to-Los Angeles section. This approval allows for the full California Environmental Quality Act clearance of nearly 300 miles of high-speed rail projects 500-mile Phase 1, from San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim.
The Boards’ actions are the second certification of an environment document in the Southern California region, and the first in Los Angeles Basin.
Authority CEO Brian Kelly stated that today’s approval marks a historic milestone in our quest to build the first high speed rail system in the United States. We are grateful for the continued collaboration with local and region agencies and stakeholders in our efforts to improve transportation in California.
The Boards approval of the Burbank-to-Los Angeles Final EIR/EIS was a significant milestone that brings the project section closer towards being shovel-ready as more funding becomes available. This section will connect the high speed rail system from the new Hollywood Burbank Airport Station with the existing Los Angeles Union Station. It will also provide an additional link between Downtown Los Angeles, and the San Fernando Valley.
This section will primarily utilize existing railroad right-of way adjacent to the Los Angeles River. It will run through the cities of Burbank and Glendale, as well as Los Angeles. This route will allow for high-speed rail service that will improve long term air quality, reduce rail congestion, and increase mobility.
The Board’s approval of the Burbank-to-Los Angeles project section and the certification of the final environmental report by the Board reaffirms the Authority’s commitment to complete the environmental review for Phase 1 of the California High-Speed Rail System (San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim) by 2023.
The Board will review the final environmental documents for sections of the San Jose-Merced and San Francisco-San Jose projects in April and June this year.
The next steps under CEQA/NEPA include the filing of a CEQA Notice of Determination, and issuing a Record of Decision in accordance with NEPA requirements. The Final EIR/EIS can be found on the Authoritys website here: https://hsr.ca.gov/programs/environmental-planning/project-section-environmental-documents-tier-2/burbank-to-los-angeles-project-section-draft-environmental-impact-report-environmental-impact-statement/
The Authority currently has 119 mile under construction and 35 active construction sites located in California’s Central Valley. Since the beginning of construction, more than 7,000 construction jobs were created. Visit www.constructionjobs.com for more information. www.buildhsr.com.