NEWS RELEASE: California High-Speed Rail Authority Releases Environmental Scoping Document for Los Angeles to Anaheim Project Section

Aug 25 2020 | Sacramento

Sacramento, Calif. – Progress continues for Southern California high-speed rail. Today, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) issued a Revised Notice of Preparation (NOP) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and a Revised Notice of Intent (NOI) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for the 30-mile Los Angeles to Anaheim Project Section. The releases kick off a one-month formal scoping period to solicit input on additional facilities in the Cities of Colton and Barstow needed for project construction and operation.

As planned, the Los Angeles to Anaheim project section will travel along the BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) owned rail corridor between Los Angeles and Fullerton, which serves BNSF Railway’s Hobart and Commerce Intermodal Facilities. The corridor runs through an urban environment, with other existing rail operators – Amtrak, Metrolink and BNSF – in the area.

In order to accommodate future high-speed rail service, and to do so in a manner that protects the ability of the current operators to make full use of the corridor during high-speed rail construction and operations, a portion of BNSF’s freight rail service will need to be relocated away from the Los Angeles to the Fullerton corridor. This will be accomplished with the environmental clearance and provision of new freight facilities in San Bernardino County, consisting of a new intermodal facility in Colton and staging tracks in Lenwood, an unincorporated area of San Bernardino County near Barstow.

In conjunction with the public review period for the document, the Authority invites the public to participate by attending virtual public scoping meetings. The meetings will provide an opportunity for the public to hear about the Revised NOP/NOI and provide comment. Comments received will be reviewed and responded to as required by law.

Written comments on the scope of the Los Angeles to Anaheim Project Section Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement should be provided to the Authority by Thursday, Sept. 24.

Due to public health and safety requirements concerning the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Los Angeles to Anaheim Project Section public scoping meetings will occur online and/or as teleconference meetings only. Please check the Authority’s website (www.hsr.ca.gov) for more information. Public scoping meetings are scheduled for the following dates and times.

Virtual Scoping Meeting #1 is scheduled on:
Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. PST
Spanish presentation starts at 6:30 p.m. PST
Log on at www.hsr.ca.gov

Virtual Scoping Meeting #2 is scheduled on:
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. PST
Spanish presentation starts at 11:30 a.m. PST
Log on at www.hsr.ca.gov

The Authority is issuing this document as lead agency under CEQA and under NEPA pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) effective as of July 23, 2019, between the State of California and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) under a program commonly known as NEPA assignment (the MOU assigned FRA’s NEPA responsibilities for the project to the State of California). The Authority is the lead agency under CEQA, and under NEPA pursuant to the MOU.

There are several ways to submit a comment on the scope of the Los Angeles to Anaheim Project Section, including:

• At the scoping meetings detailed above
• Call the Los Angeles to Anaheim hotline, 877-669-0494, and leave your comment on the voicemail
• Online via the Authority’s website (hsr.ca.gov)
• Via email at los.angeles_anaheimhttps://hsr-test.hsr.c.gov with the subject line “Los Angeles to Anaheim Revised NOP/NOI Comment”
• Via mail at the address below:

Attn: Los Angeles to Anaheim Revised NOP/NOI California High-Speed Rail Authority, 770 L Street, Suite 620, Sacramento, CA 95814

To view the contents of the Revised NOP/NOI, please visit our website at www.hsr.ca.gov.