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The planning work for California’s statewide high-speed rail system continues to advance. Last week, California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) board members approved a preliminary alternatives analysis for the Los Angeles-San Diego section, heard an update on the Los Angeles-Anaheim segment and approved a supplemental alternatives analysis report for the Palmdale-L.A. section.

The analyses set the framework for the next level of design, engineering and environmental work, putting CHSRA a step closer to completing the draft environmental impact reports for each section, according to the agency.

For the Palmdale-L.A. section, the board approved the continued study of three alignments coming out of Union Station, all of which skirt various community resources, including the Los Angeles River, Los Angeles State Historic Park and Rio de Los Angeles State Park. The board also approved further study of potential interim station locations in the San Fernando Valley area.

For the Los-Angeles-San Diego segment, which would run via the Inland Empire, CHSRA has completed a preliminary alternatives analysis report that begins to refine potential alignments and track design. The board approved reducing the number of stations being reviewed from 24 to 13 and identified the San Diego International Airport as the southern terminus of the system.

The report includes a range of options through East Los Angeles, and calls for a continued review of the I-10 and SF-60 alignments through the San Gabriel Valley, dropping the Union Pacific Railroad route from consideration in the region and continued review of station options in El Monte, West Covina and Pomona. In addition, the report calls for continuing to study station options in San Bernardino, the I-215 and I-15 corridors through Riverside and the removal of several alignment options in the San Diego area due to environmental and constructability concerns.

For the Los Angeles-Anaheim section, CHSRA staff has identified areas to study further that would enable the agency to construct the segment using a phased approach, since the area is “dense and technically complicated,” according to the authority. The identified areas have potential to create early investment opportunities for the corridor, CHSRA said. During the next year, the authority will further analyze the phased approach between L.A. and Anaheim by conducting technical studies and coordinating with local transportation agencies, regional planning organizations, local cities and the public to determine the best way to improve existing rail services while preparing the corridor for high-speed rail service.