California HSR - Different sections moving ahead

Bakersfield – Palmdale Section At the February California High-Speed Rail Authority Board Meeting, the Authority Board approved the Supplemental Alternatives Analysis (SAA) Report for the Bakersfield to Palmdale Section of the California High-Speed Train project. The approval of the SAA allows the alignment to move forward with developing the section Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) by early 2013. The report was prepared to document additional evaluation and analysis of the proposed alignment alternatives identified in the preliminary report, and to identify the proposed alignment alternatives to be studied further as part of the EIR/EIS preparation process. For more information on the Bakersfield-Palmdale section, visit:http://cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/lib_Bakersfield_Palmdale.aspx Palmdale – Los Angeles Section The Supplemental Alternatives Analysis for the Palmdale to Sylmar section is scheduled to be presented to the California High-Speed Rail Authority Board at the April 2012 Board meeting. To prepare, the regional team continues to work with stakeholders in the Santa Clarita Valley, Acton and Agua Dulce communities. At the April Board meeting, the regional team will recommend alignments to be studied through the environmental review process. For more information on the Palmdale-Los Angeles section, visit:http://cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/lib_Palmdale_Los_Angeles.aspx Los Angeles – Anaheim Section The Los Angeles to Anaheim team is continuing to refine plans in the section, emphasizing the blended approach that will exist in this corridor. In an effort to continue working with corridor cities, agency partners, and stakeholders, the outreach team participated in many successful outreach events throughout the corridor to seek feedback on the system. Recent events included the Great Train Expo and the Construction Managers Association of America Owner’s Night. In March the team will be participating in Orange County’s Largest Mixer. For more information on the Los Angeles-Anaheim section, visit:http://cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/lib_Los_Angeles_Anaheim.aspx Los Angeles – San Diego (via the Inland Empire) Section  The Los Angeles to San Diego (via the Inland Empire) Section remains in the Alternative Analysis stage.  The Preliminary Alternatives Analysis was approved by the CHSRA Board in March 2011.  Further study of alternatives is needed in this section, as multiple corridors remain in some areas and analysis is needed to determine the appropriate alternatives to carry forward into environmental documentation and preliminary engineering. This further analysis and outreach to key stakeholders will begin this spring with the preparation of a Supplemental Alternatives Analysis, anticipated to be completed at the end of 2012.  For more information on the Los Angeles-San Diego (via the Inland Empire) section, visit:http://cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/lib_Los_Angeles_San_Diego.aspx