California high-speed rail board OKs preferred alternatives for northern routes

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) board earlier this week adopted preferred alternatives for the planned high-speed rail (HSR) routes in Northern California. 

The board's action means the authority can move that portion of the project into the development phase, CHSRA officials said in a press release.

The route's San Jose-to-Merced section will use a blended configuration between San Jose and Gilroy in the existing Caltrain and Union Pacific Railroad corridors before continuing to a dedicated high-speed rail alignment through Pacheco Pass.

The route's San Francisco-to-San Jose section also will use a blended configuration between San Francisco and San Jose within the existing Caltrain corridor. This alternative includes a light maintenance facility on the east side of the tracks in Brisbane and does not include additional passing tracks.

CHSRA staff now are working to finish a draft environmental impact report and environmental impact statement for both the San Francisco-to-San Jose and San Jose-to-Merced sections.

The draft documents are due out in early 2020 for the San Jose-to-Merced project section and in spring 2020 for the San Francisco-to-San Jose project section.