High-speed rail reaches major milestone for route between Bay Area and Los Angeles

Building high-speed rail between downtown San Francisco and downtown Los Angeles has moved a step closer to reality following the last environmental clearance for the multi-billion dollar project.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority’s board of directors last week approved the final environmental document for the 38-mile segment between Palmdale and Burbank. That means the 463-mile project between the Bay Area and Los Angeles County has now received environmental clearance, an important step before construction can begin.

“This is a transformative project for the state of California as a whole, and (the) approval is a major milestone for connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles in less than three hours. It’s also transformational for Los Angeles County, connecting Palmdale to Burbank in a way that’s never been possible before,’’ said CEO Brian Kelly in a statement.

The board’s approval moves the section connecting the Antelope Valley to the San Fernando Valley closer to being “shovel-ready” when funding becomes available, officials said. The project as a whole still needs more than $100 billion to be completed.

Authority Board Chair Tom Richards called the approval a historic milestone that closes the gap between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“We value our authority team and its tireless support and collaboration with local and regional agencies and stakeholders as we work together to improve transportation in California for future generations,’’ he said in a statement.

Current plans call for a reduction in tunneling though the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains for this last segment, compared to other alternatives. Less tunneling through these regions lessens impacts to communities and environmental resources in the region, officials said.

While the milestone is the final environmental clearance needed for the route from downtown San Francisco to downtown Los Angeles, the route from Los Angeles to Anaheim still needs environmental clearance, with finalization expected next year.

But work has already begun on construction of 171 miles of electrified high-speed rail from Merced to Bakersfield. There are currently more than 25 active construction sites in the Central Valley dedicated to that phase of the bullet train.

If money can be found, train service could start between 2030 and 2033 with four sprawling stations along that Central Valley route, officials said. The project still needs $7 billion to complete the segment. It’s unclear when high-speed rail might reach the Bay Area.