Today(8/1/2014), we receive the letter from the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CaHSRA) again. They’re going to host a Public Scoping Meeting for Palmdale to Burbank Project Section and Burbank to Los Angeles Project Section from August 5, 2014 to August 19, 2014, in 7 main cities in Southern California.
The Authority and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) have issued a Notice of Preparation (NOP) and Notice of Intent (NOI) for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for each project section.
Background: the California High-Speed Rail Authority is responsible for planning, designing, building and operation of the first high-speed rail system in the nation. California high-speed rail will connect the mega-regions of the state, contribute to economic development and a cleaner environment, create jobs and preserve agricultural and protected lands. By 2029, the system will run from San Francisco to the Los Angeles basin in under three hours at speeds capable of over 200 miles per hour. The system will eventually extend to Sacramento and San Diego, totaling 800 miles with up to 24 stations. In addition, the Authority is working with regional partners to implement a state-wide rail modernization plan that will invest billions of dollars in local and regional rail lines to meet the state’s 21st century transportation needs. (Source: the California High-Speed Rail Authority, http://www.hsr.ca.gov/)
