The California High-Speed Rail Authority’s Board of Directors last week approved a list of staff recommended Preferred Alternatives for high-speed rail routes in Northern California, following years of analysis.
Final recommendations were released in July, and with their agreement, the Board has directed staff to continue project development and local engagement. Both a Draft Environmental Impact Report and an Environmental Impact Statement for both the San Francisco to San Jose and San Jose to Merced routes. The draft environmental documents are due out in early 2020 for the San Jose to Merced project section and in spring 2020 for the San Francisco to San Jose project section.
“The Board’s adoption of the Preferred Alternatives is a major milestone for the high-speed rail program in Northern California,” Authority CEO Brian Kelly said. “This action allows the Authority to prepare for the next steps in moving the project forward in Northern California. I appreciate the hard work and dedication that our team put into getting this action finalized.”
For its Preferred Alternative on the San Jose to Merced project section, the Board selected a blended configuration between San Jose and Gilroy in the existing Caltrain and Union Pacific Railroad corridors. The route then continues to a dedicated high-speed rail alignment through Pacheco Pass.
As for the San Francisco to San Jose project, the Board went with another blended configuration, this time between San Francisco and San Jose within the existing Caltrain corridor. A light maintenance facility will be included on the east side of the tracks in Brisbane, without additional passing tracks.
Final route decisions will be made following the environmental review process.