CHSRA Releases Draft Environmental Document for S. California Project

Written by Andrew Corselli
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A CHSRA train. Photo via LinkedIn.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) is releasing the project-level draft environmental document for the approximately 14-mile Burbank to Los Angeles Project Section. The document for the Southern California project section will be available for public review and comment starting on Friday, May 29.

The Burbank to Los Angeles project section connects two key multi-modal transportation hubs in Los Angeles County, a new Burbank Airport Station in Burbank and the existing Los Angeles Union Station (LAUS) in Los Angeles. These stations are intended to provide links with regional and local mass transit services as well as connectivity to airports and the highway networks in the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles Basin. This project section is also an important component of the entire statewide high-speed rail system that will connect Southern California with the Central Valley and Bay Area.

The Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIR/EIS) evaluates the impacts and benefits of the CHSRA’s Build Alternative that would realign the existing rail tracks to allow for two additional tracks to be added to much of the corridor. It will feature two electrified tracks for high-speed rail that can be shared with Metrolink and Amtrak, and two non-electrified tracks for Metrolink, Amtrak and freight within the existing corridor. Closer to LAUS, there are already four existing mainline tracks and two of those will be electrified.

With the release of this Burbank to Los Angeles Draft EIR/EIS, CHSRA remains on schedule to complete environmental clearance for the full Phase 1 system by the federally mandated 2022 deadline. From Friday, May 29 through Thursday, July 16, the Burbank to Los Angeles Draft EIR/EIS is available for CEQA and NEPA review and public comment.

In conjunction with the public review period for the document, CHSRA invites interested parties to participate in both an online community open house and online public hearing. Physical locations may be considered if COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Check the CHSRA’s website for more information, including up-to-date information on the planned open house and hearing.

The online community open house is scheduled on:

June 18, 2020, 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. PST, log on at www.hsr.ca.gov

The online public hearing is scheduled on:

July 8, 2020, 3 p.m.-8 p.m. PST, log on at www.hsr.ca.gov

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