California High-Speed Rail Authority extends draft EIR comment period

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has extended until April 28 the public review period of the draft environmental impact report (EIR) for the Bakersfield-to-Palmdale section of the high-speed rail system.

The 15-day extension will allow stakeholders and the public to review and submit comments on the draft EIR during the COVID-19 pandemic, CHSRA officials said in a press release.

CHSRA also will host a virtual public hearing on the report on April 23. An in-person public hearing was originally scheduled for April 9.

The authority is accepting comments via mail, email, online portal and by phone.

The input will be evaluated and incorporated into a final EIR document.