In June, a draft environmental impact report offered a detailed look at how the nascent California High-Speed Rail line will connect Burbank with Los Angeles Union Station.  Now, officials will study how to extend service into Orange County.

Earlier this week, the California High-Speed Rail initiated the environmental review period for the project's Los Angeles-to-Anaheim section.  The roughly 30-mile corridor would include stops at Union Station, Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs Station, the Fullerton Transportation Center, and Anaheim's ARTIC transit hub.

Under the proposed plan, an electrified track for high-speed trains and other passenger rail services would be built within existing right-of-way owned by BNSF Railway.  Trains would be fully segregated from vehicle cross-traffic by existing overpasses and underpasses, and new grade separations of current street-level crossings.

As the proposed high-speed track between the Redondo and Fullerton would preclude the expansion of freight rail services within the corridor, the environmental study will also evaluate the construction of two new satellite rail facilities in the San Bernardino County communities of Lenwood and Colton.

The High-Speed Rail Authority is accepting comment on for the project's environmental study through September 24.

Additionally, virtual scoping meetings are scheduled for:

  • Thursday September 10 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm and
  • Saturday, September 12 from 10 am to 12:30 pm

Directions for giving public comment and accessing the scoping meetings are available at the project's official website.