California High-Speed Rail Authority releases route recommendations

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) yesterday released staff recommendations of the preferred alternatives for the planned high-speed rail (HSR) routes in Northern California. 

The authority recommends that the San Jose-to-Merced section of the route include a blended configuration between San Jose and Gilroy in the existing Union Pacific Railroad corridor before continuing to a dedicated HSR alignment through Pacheco Pass in Santa Clara County.

In the San Francisco-to-San Jose section, the staff recommends a light maintenance facility on the east side of the tracks in Brisbane. The recommendation does not include additional passing tracks in the middle of the corridor.

All route alternatives for the project will be evaluated in draft environmental documents due in December 2019 and March 2020, however identifying preferred alternatives will guide the public to what is most likely to become the selected project, CHSRA officials said in a press release. 

“The identification of the preferred alternatives is an important step in defining the program and advancing the implementation of the authority’s Silicon Valley-to-Central Valley Line that will ultimately bring high-speed rail to Northern California,” said Northern California Regional Director Boris Lipkin in a press release.

The authority plans to gather public feedback on its recommendations through community meetings and six public open houses to be held this summer. 

In September, CHSRA’s staff will then present its recommendations along with the feedback to the authority’s board, which will provide direction as to the alternatives selected as the state’s preferred routes.  

Final route decisions will be made at the conclusion of the environmental review process.