CA High-Speed Rail Authority Releases Final EIS for San Jose-Merced
The California High Speed Rail Authority has released the Final Environmental Impact Report/Statement (Final EIR/EIS) for the San Jose to Merced Project Section. This is a big step towards making this segment “shovel ready” for when funding is secured to begin construction.
The approximately 90-mile section will connect the Central Valley to Silicon Valley by way of Santa Clara, San Jose, Morgan Hill, Gilroy and Los Banos. When it’s finished, you will be able to take a high-speed train directly into San Francisco, due to the electrification of Caltrain that is in progress. It will also provide connectivity with commuter rail and public transit at San Jose Diridon Station and downtown Gilroy.
Another reason to celebrate this progress is that it provides answers for how one of the most challenging segments of the network will be handled, the Pacheco Pass. This is a 25 mile difficult stretch through the mountains that fills a critical gap in the system. The EIS describes the tunnels that will be used there, where trains will be able to reach up to 220mph.
Despite early setbacks and navigating a pandemic, California’s high-speed rail project has been advancing steadily lately. There are currently 35 active construction sites in the Central Valley and since the start of construction, the project has created 7,300 labor jobs. Nearly 300 miles of the 500 mile Phase 1 system from SF to LA/Anaheim have been environmentally cleared, and more sections should receive clearance this year. This puts the project in a great position to begin construction in Northern and Southern California when additional funding is made available.
Speaking of funding, California Governor Newsom included $4.2 billion in funding for high-speed rail in his budget proposal, and there is more federal funding for passenger rail available today than ever before. California needs to take advantage of this opportunity and get high-speed trains running before the end of this decade.
You can help by signing our petition in support of California’s high-speed rail project.
If you are a resident of California, please contact your legislators directly here.