Last Unapproved Segment Of California’s High-Speed Rail up for Environmental Approval In June

The California High-Speed Rail Authority announced Friday that the last segment of the Los Angeles to San Francisco phase one of the rail system that hasn’t received environmental clearance is up for a final environmental impact decision next month.

Originally estimated to cost $33 billion in 2008, costs of the high speed rail system have ballooned to well over $100 billion, then was cut to $68 billion, and back up to $113 billion and most recently, $135 billion. Completion dates have also been continuously delayed, with the original goal of the system to travel from San Francisco to Los Angeles by 2028, to well into the 2030’s for a partial completion. Despite numerous setbacks, and more Californians calling the plans into question, construction on the Bakersfield to Merced leg has continued for the last several years, with overall support for the program still just above 50% in the state and the federal government pouring billions into the project as well.

However, at a CHRSA meeting in March, construction estimates were raised to at least $135 billion for a partial completion set between 2030 and 2033. Longer term, the CHRSA said that at least another $100 billion would be needed to complete phase one between Los Angeles and San Francisco. And those figures have all come before final approval for the entire SF-LA line.

Some parts of the line still need final approvals. Specifically, the LA to Anaheim segment, despite getting environmental approval, still needs to find the right final route as cities in the planned area keep rejecting or not approving CHRSA’s plans for a fourth rail line. And when it comes to environmental approval, the CHRSA is still one segment short: the Palmdale to Burbank section.

The proposed route between the two cities is one of the most challenging of the entire system. Thanks to multiple urban areas, mountains, the route slicing through the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, and the Burbank Airport Station needing an underground platform, all seven proposed routes are to be almost entirely underground. Most of the proposed routes are about 28 miles in length, with four major tunnels to be built, including one 13 miles long and another 12 miles long. Environmental approval has also been particularly tricky as construction not only means going through a National Monument, but possibly through the Magic Mountain Wilderness Area as well. Despite this, the six proposed routes, as well as an either “no route” option were announced to be presented next month at a meeting to finally get environmental approval for the crucial leg.

“This environmental document is the culmination of years of analysis and stakeholder engagement and is a huge milestone in connecting high-speed rail between two of our major metropolitan centers,” CHRSA CEO Brian Kelly said on Friday. “If our Board of Directors approves this document and the proposed project at their summer Board meeting, we will have environmentally cleared 463 of the 494-mile Phase 1 system between the Bay Area and Los Angeles/Anaheim.”

Should the Palmdale/Burbank section be approved next month, as well as the LA/Anaheim section getting final approvals, the CHRSA will be completely approved. However, final costs and a solid construction/renovation timeline are still up in the air. The original 2008 plan had phase one set to be completed by 2028 for $33 billion. However, as noted before, costs have since gone up to at least $135 billion with no working segment expected to open until at least 2030. And that’s not getting into the final phase 1 completion date or going into phase 2, which is expected to link up both San Diego and Sacramento.

“It is surprising that it took this long for environmental approvals, even in California,” German passenger railroad consultant Horst Bauer told the Globe on Friday. “When new rail lines are proposed in Germany or Canada or elsewhere in the United States, even the more environmentally conscious areas tend to work more quickly than this.”

“California High Speed Rail is also being very sneaky about this. The San Gabriel Mountains National Monument was just expanded this month, and there are rumors it could become even more protected in the future as a result. So they stopped dragging their feet and are now pushing forward faster than they did before. I can say that I have never seen a segment plan like this. The terrain and existing urban areas and protected land here has made this segment so unusual. It is a lot of tunnels. To give some context, the Channel Tunnel between England and France is 31 miles. They want to do a few miles short of that through inland California.”

The final environmental impact decision is due to be made next month.