CHSRA Certifies San Francisco-San Jose EIR/EIS

Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) Board has certified the Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the approximately 43-mile San Francisco to San Jose section, approving the project. The move completes environmental clearance for high speed rail in Northern California and extends that clearance to 420 miles of the 500-mile Phase 1 alignment connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim, CHSRA reported.

The Board on Aug. 18 certified the San Francisco to San Jose project section Final EIR/EIS (download summary below), which was released in June for its review.

Final_EIRS_FJ_V1-06a_Summary_English Download

In approving this project section (see map below), the CHSRA Board selected the Preferred Alternative (Alternative A), which “builds on the Caltrain electrification project and incorporates the infrastructure necessary to run high speed rail service in the corridor,” CHSRA said. “The approved Alternative A extends from the previously approved San Jose high speed rail station and includes new high speed rail stations in San Francisco and Millbrae; construction of a light maintenance facility on the east side of the Caltrain corridor in Brisbane; and improvements for safety and speed in the region.”

This project section is now one step closer to being “shovel ready” for when final-design, pre-construction and construction funding becomes available, according to CHSRA.

“With environmental studies completed in Northern California, we are closer than ever to realizing a first in the nation, statewide high-speed rail system,” CHSRA Chairman Tom Richards said. “We look forward to working with all of our regional partners and stakeholders in developing modern, sustainable transportation infrastructure, completing our work in the Central Valley and connecting to the Bay Area as soon as possible.”