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California’s high-speed railway system -- once planned to lay construction through Santa Clarita -- is still deliberating on the route along Agua Dulce and Acton.
California’s high-speed railway system -- once planned to lay construction through Santa Clarita -- is still deliberating on the route along Agua Dulce and Acton.

High Speed Rail Authority Hears Public Input From Southern California Residents

The California High Speed Rail Authority held their monthly meeting in Los Angeles Tuesday morning, where officials heard from nearby residents regarding the Southern California alignments and the draft 2018 business plan.


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The three alignment alternatives, released in 2016, primarily consist of underground routes in order to minimize concerns, though they have failed to convince all citizens.

Multiple critics of the railway’s Southern California alignment options, which would connect the proposed Palmdale and Burbank stations, hailed from northern L.A. communities, citing potential noise disruption and physical obstructions.

In order to quell worries that residents would be left out of the decision making process, Dan Richard, chair of the California High Speed Rail Authority board, promised to host a meeting in the San Fernando Valley when the time nears to choose a route.

The draft 2018 business plan was also a large topic of debate at the monthly meeting.

The plan, released in early March, attempted to address the multiple setbacks the California High Speed Rail Authority has faced since the rail was first approved by California residents during the 2008 election.

First, there is the drastic increase in cost, from an initial estimate of $33 billion to the current estimate proposed in the 2018 plan of $77.3 billion.

Additionally, the anticipated timeline for when the full rail system will be in operation has been pushed from 2029 to 2033.

California High Speed Rail Authority officials attempted to reassure residents in a press release, stating, “Once operational, high-speed rail will breathe new life into local economies by encouraging the movements of residents and visitors between the major regions of the state like never before, while at the same time, protecting California’s environment.”

In early February, the California High Speed Rail Authority hired Brian P. Kelly, who previously led the California State Transportation Agency, as their new CEO.  

In a letter written by Kelly at the beginning of the 2018 plan, he says that most of the cost increases are attributable to “contingency increases, inflation and the revised Central Valley Segment costs.”

“We have already taken important steps to expedite the Authority’s transition from a planning organization to a project delivery organization including new management and governance structures,” says Kelly.

The release of the draft 2018 business plan also coincided with the beginning of a 60 day period during which the California High Speed Rail Authority is soliciting comments from the public. Residents can submit their comments here.

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High Speed Rail Authority Hears Public Input From Southern California Residents

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About Juan Carlos Lara