FRA, California renew federal pact for high-speed rail environmental reviews

The California State Transportation Agency and the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) renewed an agreement with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to continue assuming the FRA’s federal environmental review responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The renewed agreement streamlines decision-making and provides a more efficient environmental review process, CHSRA officials said in a news release.

Initiatives like this are essential to maintain the project’s momentum, said Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose.

"California’s high-speed rail project is an important piece of an electrified, high-speed passenger rail network in the western United States that will connect millions of people, provide new economic opportunities and good-paying jobs, and make world-class passenger rail a reality in America,” Bose said.

Under the previous agreement with the FRA, California’s high-speed rail program was able to assume the role and responsibility of the FRA in making final determinations under NEPA for assigned projects such as the environmental clearance between Los Angeles and San Francisco. 

The state was granted NEPA authority in 2019 for an initial five-year duration. With the FRA’s approval, the state’s authority will now be extended for 10 years.