Project Section Environmental Documents (Tier 2)

Using the programmatic EIR/EISs and first-tier decisions as a foundation, the Authority and FRA continued planning for the high-speed rail system by dividing the statewide HSR system into individual project sections with a station at each end. These project sections have formed the basis for second-tier, project-level planning and environmental documents under CEQA and NEPA to support specific decisions for the HSR system.

California Governor Gavin Newsom and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator Ronald Batory have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), by which the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) has been assigned FRA’s responsibilities as lead agency under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Pursuant to Section 327 of Title 23 of the United States Code, effective July 23, 2019 the MOU is authorized under the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program, otherwise known as NEPA Assignment.

The following second-tier EIR/EIS documents are either in progress or completed:

San Francisco to San Jose Project Section Environmental Documents:

• Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Feb. 2022)
• Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report/Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Jul. 2021)
• Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Jul. 2020)

San Jose to Merced Project Section Environmental Documents:

• Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Feb. 2022)
• Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report/Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Apr. 2021)
• Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Apr. 2020)

Merced to Fresno Project Section Environmental Documents:

• Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Apr. 2012)

Merced to Fresno Project Section Environmental Documents: Central Valley Wye

• Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Aug. 2020)
• Revised Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report/Second Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, Biological Resources Analysis (Mar. 2020)
• Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (May 2019)

Fresno to Bakersfield Project Section Environmental Documents:

• Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (May 2014)

Fresno to Bakersfield Project Section Environmental Documents: Locally Generated Alternative

• Combined Supplemental Record of Decision and Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement  (Nov. 2019)
• Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (Oct. 2018)
• Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Nov. 2017)

Bakersfield to Palmdale Project Section Environmental Documents:

• Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Jun. 2021)
• Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report/Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Feb. 2021)
• Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Feb. 2020)

Palmdale to Burbank Project Section Environmental Documents:

• Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Sep. 2020)
• Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (May 2024)

Burbank to Los Angeles Project Section Environmental Documents:

• Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Nov. 2021)
• Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (May 2020)