The California High-Speed Rail Authority also certified the Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement for the San Francisco to San Jose section of the route in August.
“The California High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors announced on Wednesday that they approved the continued construction of the network into both Merced and Bakersfield,” reports Evan Symon for California Globe.
Construction between Bakersfield and Merced is already underway, but the recent infusion of federal funding for the project, including $25 million in RAISE grant funding for the project in downtown Merced, made it easier for the California High-Speed Rail Authority to award two construction contracts for continued work.
“The Authority awarded the $41 million Merced to Madera extension design contract to Stantec Consulting Services Inc. which covers approximately 33.9 miles with 40 structures,” explains Symon. “The $44.9 million Fresno to Bakersfield (Locally Generated Alternative) extension contract was awarded to HNTB and covers approximately 18.5 miles between the cities of Shafter and Bakersfield in Kern County with 31 structures.”
In another big development for the project, the Authority also announced on August 18 that it had certified the Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement for the San Francisco to San Jose section of the route. As reported by Dustin Gardiner for the San Francisco Chronicle [paywall], the approval of the Final EIR/EIS means that 400 miles of the planned 520-mile route have now been granted environmental clearance for construction.
The Authority is claiming that recent progress on the project could allow trains to operate in the state’s Central Valley by 2029.
FULL STORY: California High-Speed Rail Board Approves Construction of Lines into Bakersfield, Merced
Environmental Review Complete for Key Northern California Section of High-Speed Rail Project
The San Jose to Merced Project Section Final Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact Statement could be approved by April 21.
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.
Gov. Gavin Newsom to Dramatically Downsize High-Speed Rail Project
The San Francisco-to-Los Angeles bullet train may have to be renamed the Central Valley High-Speed Train according to the announcement by the new governor in his first state-of-the-state address.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie