High Desert Corridor FAQ

1. When will Caltrans select one of the alternatives?
2. How is the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) selected?
3. Who is leading the effort/project study?
4. Why is the High Desert Corridor (HDC) needed?
5. What are the benefits to the surrounding communities?
6. How will the HDC be funded?
7. What private funding sources are available to help offset the cost of this project?
8. Is funding available now? Will it be available once construction is ready to begin?
9. Why does the environmental study include other transportation modes?
10. When will construction begin on this project?
11. Will there be a high-speed rail (HSR) feeder component to this project?
12. Will there be a HSR station along the alignment?
13. Does the project include toll lanes?
14. Will there be dedicated truck lanes?
15. Where will the new overpasses be located?
16. Can the project team make a presentation to my group?
17. What is included in the Scoping Report?
18. What should I expect in the Draft EIS/EIR?
19. When will the Draft EIS/EIR be available for review?
20. How can I comment on the Draft EIS/EIR?
21. Will this lead to increased truck traffic on local roads?
22. Will private property need to be purchased for this project?  If so, when will property owners be notified?

1. When will Caltrans select one of the alternatives?

Throughout the course of the environmental study, alternatives will be refined to minimize impacts and maximize their potential benefits.  The draft environmental report (Draft EIS/EIR) is scheduled to be completed and released for public review in fall 2012.  Staff will review public comments and the technical evaluation to recommend a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) in the final environmental document in spring of 2013.

2. How is the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) selected?

The environmental evaluation of the alternatives combined with public input is used to select the LPA.  Caltrans decision makers will carefully review the potential impacts and benefits of each alternative as well as the cost, funding and public input to make a final decision.

3. Who is leading the effort/project study?

Caltrans is the lead agency for the completion of the environmental study and is the owner/operator of all public freeways in California.  Metro is a funding partner and is responsible for transportation improvements in Los Angeles County.  Together, Caltrans and Metro have developed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that identifies the roles and responsibilities for the environmental clearance and project approval for the HDC.

4. Why is the High Desert Corridor (HDC) needed?

The continued growth of the Antelope and Victor Valley areas together with the pressure to move goods efficiently through Southern California and provide access to regional airports has placed a premium on making a new east/west connection between SR-14 and I-15, extending to SR-18.  Improvements to this corridor are considered necessary to provide for the existing and projected traffic demand attributed to residential growth and increasing commercial and industrial developments.  This growth is resulting in inadequate capacity and accessibility along the existing east-west roadways such as the SR-138 and Palmdale Boulevard.

5. What are the benefits to the surrounding communities?

For years the communities along the proposed High Desert Corridor have depended on limited east/west travel corridors such as Palmdale Boulevard and SR-138.  These travel corridors are undersized and unsafe, plagued with flooding and high accident rates.  The HDC project would provide a fully grade-separated highway that is safe and efficient.  This project will also serve as an economic catalyst for continued and future job growth. 

6. How will the HDC be funded?

As with most, if not all, large public infrastructure projects, funding must come from a variety of sources.  In the case of the HDC, there is some funding available through Measure R, the ½ cent sales tax passed by voters in Los Angeles County in 2008 to complete the environmental clearance for the project.  In addition, funding is being pursued from both state and federal funding sources.  However, with current economic conditions as they are, Public Private Partnerships (PPP) are being aggressively explored to determine how best to finance this project.  The opportunity to incorporate green technology and/or high speed train access along the HDC right-of-way may also provide other funding sources to consider.

7. What private funding sources are available to help offset the cost of this project?

The bulk of private sector funding is expected to derive from bond financing backed by tolls. The Green Energy Corridor is being studied to see if wind, solar or natural gas revenue can add to direct or bond financing of construction, operation and maintenance. If Congress passes a new Surface Transportation bill, provisions for no or low interest loans, loan guarantees, and freight fees may be available.

Private funding will come from a combination of potential tolls and green energy technologies along the High Desert Corridor. Currently, a Green Energy Corridor study is being conducted to seek the potential economic benefits of green energy technologies for the construction and maintenance of the High Desert Corridor.

8. Is funding available now? Will it be available once construction is ready to begin?

Funding to complete the HDC has not been identified at this time. Policy and decision makers are actively working to identify the appropriate funding needed to complete the project.  In addition, in October 2009, the Los Angeles County Metro Board approved the HDC as one of six projects for further Public Private Partnership opportunities and will develop a Strategic Assessment and Business Case Development Plan for future funding of the project.

Future phases of the project will only begin once the project funding is in place. 

9. Why does the environmental study include other transportation modes?

The legal requirements of the state and federal environmental process requires that not only the proposed build alternatives be evaluated but also any other reasonable alternative for comparison.  Therefore, the environmental document evaluates a “No-Build” and Transportation System/Demand Management (TSM/TDM) alternatives.

10. When will construction begin on this project?

If funding was available, the technical project development process including environmental clearance, engineering and design could prepare the HDC for construction as early as 2016.  However, this is the most optimistic timeline based on the required technical requirements with no delays.  Typically, funding is what determines the timing of projects not the technical process.

11. Will there be a high-speed rail (HSR) feeder component to this project?

The Desert Xpress and the California High Speed Rail Authority projects are not part of this study and are currently going through their own project development processes.  However, because of the potential need for right-of-way along the HDC corridor for a future high speed rail feeder connection, the environmental process is looking to clear up to 500 feet of right-of-way which could accommodate a future high speed rail feeder corridor.

12. Will there be a HSR station along the alignment?

The environmental evaluation for the alternatives includes the potential Right-of-Way (ROW) clearance for a high speed rail feeder system.  However, specifics about the high speed rail feeder system, such as station location will be conducted by a separate environmental clearance effort.  

13. Does the project include toll lanes?

Some of the project alternatives consider the use of tolls along the High Desert Corridor. Metro is currently conducting a Strategic Assessment and Business Case Development to determine the specific limits of the toll lane. Information on toll lanes will be presented to the public as soon at it becomes available.   

14. Will there be dedicated truck lanes?

No dedicated truck lanes are being proposed as part of this project.  However, the HDC is focused on the east-west truck movement between Antelope and Victor Valleys.

15. Where will the new overpasses be located?

The traffic model demand forecast study, part of the environmental clearance work, will help determine the location of overpasses, ramps, number of lanes and other traffic related elements.  The traffic study is projected to be completed June 2012. 

16. Can the project team make a presentation to my group?

Yes, Caltrans, Metro and the consultant team are available to make a HDC presentation to your group.  If you are interested in having a presentation, we encourage you to call the project helpline at 888.252.7433.

17. What is included in the Scoping Report?

The Scoping Report documents the outreach activities and public input received at the outset of the environmental process.  Scoping meetings are conducted with the public and government agencies, to identify public and agency concerns and to define the environmental issues and alternatives to be examined in the EIS/EIR. The report includes a project history, comments submitted by the community and participating agencies, and outlines key issues identified for study in the EIS/EIR.

18. What should I expect in the Draft EIS/EIR?

The purpose of the Draft EIS/EIR is to study the potential impacts of construction and operation of the HDC, and to evaluate measures to avoid, minimize and mitigate adverse impacts of the project. Examples of impacts to be studied include:

• Operation and construction
• Traffic and parking
• Land use and development
• Displacement and relocations
• Community and neighborhood impacts
• Visual and aesthetics
• Air quality
• Noise and vibration
• Ecosystems and biological resources
• Geotechnical, seismic and hazardous materials
• Hydrology and water quality
• Energy
• Climate change
• Historic, archaeological and paleontological impacts
• Parklands
• Economic and fiscal impacts
• Safety and security
• Growth inducing impacts
• Environmental justice
• Cost and financial analysis

19. When will the Draft EIS/EIR be available for review?

The Draft EIS/EIR is expected to be released to the public Fall 2012.

20. How can I comment on the Draft EIS/EIR?

Once the document is released for community review and response, Caltrans will host a set of public hearings to take verbal and written comments.  Additionally, comments can be submitted by email or postal mail.  Currently, the Draft EIS/EIR is scheduled to be released in the fall of 2012.

21. Will this lead to increased truck traffic on local roads?

The proposed HDC project would provide a safe and efficient highway for trucks to use between SR-14, through I-15 and to SR-18.  This should result in less truck traffic on local roads.  The environmental document will analyze the traffic impacts of the HDC.

22. Will private property need to be purchased for this project? If so, when will property owners be notified?

The environmental document (Draft EIS/EIR) will determine what, if any, right-of-way is required for each of the proposed alternatives.  Property owners will be notified of the public release of the Draft EIS/EIR and encouraged to review and provide input.  If you are a property owner and are interested in following the project you can contact the project helpline 888.252.7433 and provide us with your contact information so we can place you on the project database for all notifications and updates.

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