New Environmental Analysis for High-Speed Rail from San Francisco to San Jose

Issues of track blending and electrification factor heavily in the latest environmental impact report and environmental impact statement released last week for the California High-Speed Rail project.

2 minute read

July 13, 2020, 9:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


High Speed Rail California

California High-Speed Rail Authority / Wikimedia Commons

The California High-Speed Rail Authority released the Environmental IMpact Report (EIR/Environmental Impact States (EIS) for the San Francisco to San Jose Project Section of the California High-Speed Rail project on July 10, 2020, pursuant to state and federal environmental laws. 

According to a website to share the documentation of the EIR/EIS, the recent EIR/EIS builds on a previous environmental review process that focused on Tiew 1 project level analysis. The Tier 2 project level analysis of the plan calls for the modernization of the rail corridor between San Francisco and San Jose and for service from the Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco to the San Jose Diridon Station. 

In San Francisco, HSR trains would stop at the 4th and King Street Station in San Francisco until the Transbay Joint Powers Authority completes its Downtown Extension Project, when HSR trains would stop at the Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco. 

Here's the big summary paragraph that introduces the scope of the EIR/EIS:

This Draft EIR/EIS evaluates the impacts and benefits of the No Project Alternative and two project alternatives (Alternative A and Alternative B). Each alternative includes HSR stations in San Francisco, Millbrae, and San Jose, and an [light maintenance facility] in Brisbane. The Authority’s Preferred Alternative under NEPA, which also serves as the proposed project for CEQA, is Alternative A, a predominantly two-track blended system with no additional passing track that includes service at one future station (Salesforce Transit Center, which would serve as an HSR station when the Transbay Joint Powers Authority completes its Downtown Extension Project), three existing Caltrain stations to be shared by HSR and Caltrain (4th and King Street [an interim station only], Millbrae, and San Jose Diridon), and the East Brisbane LMF. Alternative B is similar to Alternative A, but includes a 6-mile-long, four-track passing track between San Mateo and Redwood City, the West Brisbane LMF, and an aerial viaduct approaching the San Jose Diridon Station.

Friday, July 10, 2020 in California High-Speed Rail Authority

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

3 hours ago - Zachary Whalen

Overlapping highways

The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin

People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.

September 8, 2026 - Benjamin Schneider

The Hoover Dam blocking the Colorado River. The river's water level is noticeably low. The cliffs surrounding the blue water are brown and jagged.

US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico

A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.

September 11, 2026 - The Arizona Republic

People boarding a bus on Maryland's Orange Route.

Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project

The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.

30 minutes ago - Mass Transit

A brick building with a circular sign with the Airbnb logo hanging off of it.

Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin

The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.

1 hour ago - Smart Cities Dive

One side of the image shows a Chicago bus stop without a bench, the second image shows the bus stop with a yellow and blue bench.

Guerilla urbanists are building DIY bus stop benches in Chicago

A before-and-after of one of the bus stops with a new bench. The new benches are not officially sanctioned or permitted, but the residents who placed them hope they will be the start of a network of DIY benches across the city.

2 hours ago - Block Club Chicago

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.