High Speed Rail Authority
releases final impact report
Bakersfield to Palmdale section
By OW Staff
The California High Speed Rail Authority has released its final environmental report for the Bakersfield to Palmdale section of the commuter route.
The document will be presented to the authority’s Board of Directors for approval during its Aug. 18-19 meeting.
If approved, the near 80-mile “Bakersfield to Palmdale project section will be the first high-speed rail segment in Southern California to be environmentally cleared.
“This environmental document is a culmination of thoughtful study and collaboration with partner agencies, city and county leaders, community members and other stakeholders,” said authority CEO Brian Kelly.
The authority released the draft environmental impact report in February 2020 and a revised version five months ago.
“With this effort, California will have 300 of the 500-mile high-speed rail system environmentally cleared,” Kelly said. “This paves the way for future construction progress into Los Angeles County.”
