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High-Speed Rail


Overview

Connecting LA and Orange County...in 20 minutes!

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) includes $8 billion for High-Speed Rail (HSR). Metro is coordinating with the California High-Speed Rail Authority, Federal and State agencies to help secure a portion of this designated funding for this segment.

Once funding is secured, Metro, the Orange County Transportation Authority and the California High-Speed Rail Authority will work together to build this vital Southern California train connection.

High-speed trains will be able to travel between Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles and the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC), Orange County’s transportation hub located in Anaheim adjacent to Angel Stadium, the Honda Center, Disneyland and Downtown Disney in just 20 minutes.

Compare that with driving the same heavily congested freeway corridor; the peak-period trip clocks in at over an hour.



LA Segments

Metro and High-Speed Rail in Southern California

Because California’s HSR line will serve Los Angeles, Metro will have an active role in developing its stations and facilities and integrating local public transit to create a seamless transportation system within LA County.

Los Angeles and Orange County

Initial plans call for Union Station to serve as the hub linking Los Angeles and Orange County. High-speed trains will travel along the existing Los Angeles to San Diego (LOSSAN) rail corridor providing service from LA Union Station to the future Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC). A potential station is also being considered in either Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs or Fullerton.

Interactive Map

Los Angeles to San Diego (via the Inland Empire)

Existing transportation corridors would be used to link Los Angeles/San Gabriel Valley with the Inland Empire and San Diego. An intermodal facility at Ontario Airport provides a key air-rail interface for Southern California. The Inland Empire would be linked to San Diego by an alternative on either the I-15 or I-215 corridor with a potential station at Murrieta/Temecula. The line would then proceed to downtown San Diego with a potential intermodal facility at Lindbergh Field Airport, further strengthening the air-rail connections of this section.

Los Angeles and Palmdale

Direct HSR service would connect Union Station with the Antelope Valley community of Palmdale via multimodal stations in Burbank and San Fernando/Sylmar.



Statewide System

High-Speed Rail (HSR) is the future

High-Speed trains have operated for many years in countries around the world including Japan, South Korea, China, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. In fact, by 2020, most key cities in Europe will be interconnected by a compatible, HSR network.

Californians want High-Speed Rail

California voters approved Proposition 1A in November 2008, authorizing the State to issue $9.95 billion in bonds to construct a modern rail system that links Northern and Southern California, with trains capable of reaching 220 mph. The U.S. Congress and President Obama have made HSR a key component of our nation’s transportation future by including $8 billion for it in the recently adopted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds.

A California Network

Plans call for HSR routes to link San Francisco and Sacramento through the Central Valley to Los Angeles and San Diego via Riverside and Ontario. Downtown LA will be the major link in the new system by linking Northern and Southern California together by rail for the first time.

California System Map




  • <p>Image of High-Speed Train running along UPRR lines through Central California.</p>
    Union Pacific - HSR (1)
  • <p>Conceptual view demonstrating how a High-Speed Train station would fit in with other planned development in downtown Sacramento.</p>
    Sacramento - HSR (2)
  • <p>Visualization showing an option for grade separation at Shaw Avenue in Fresno, California.</p>
    Fresno - HSR (6)
  • <p>Conceptual view of High-Speed Train crossing over the Tehachapi Pass.</p>
    San Diego - HSR (1)
  • <p>Current configuration for an intersection in Burbank, CA.</p>
    Los Angeles - HSR (3)
  • <p>Conceptual still demonstrating how a High-Speed Train station could fit in with other modes of transportation at the Ontario airport.</p>
    Orange County - HSR (11)
  • <p>A view of High-Speed Train with the Sacramento skyline in the background.</p>
    High Speed Rail (HSR) (34)


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Showing the latest posts relating to: High+Speed+Rail

Transportation headlines, Thursday, Feb. 2

Posted by Kim Upton on February 2, 2012 11:37 am
Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the Library’s Headlines blog, which you can also access ...

Five things I’m thinking about transportation, Feb. 1 edition

Posted by Steve Hymon on February 1, 2012 3:01 pm
What the world probably doesn't need: more lengthy reports on transportation projects. Photo by unk's dump truck, via Flickr. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: There has been talk lately about reforming ...

Transportation headlines, Monday, Jan. 30

Posted by Steve Hymon on January 30, 2012 9:36 am
Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the Library’s Headlines blog, which you can also access ...

Transportation headlines, Friday, January 27

Posted by Carter Rubin on January 27, 2012 10:29 am
Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the Library’s Headlines blog, which you can also access ...

Metro Board meeting roundup

Posted by Steve Hymon on January 26, 2012 2:03 pm
Here are some other actions taken by the Metro Board of Directors at their meeting on Thursday: •(Item 5) The Board approved a motion by Councilman Jose Huizar seeking construction bids that would ...

Transportation headlines, Thursday, Jan. 26

Posted by Joel Epstein on January 26, 2012 11:30 am
Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the Library’s Headlines blog, which you can also access ...

Five things I’m thinking about transportation, Jan. 25 edition

Posted by Steve Hymon on January 25, 2012 3:56 pm
HIGH-SPEED RAIL: If you’re in school and studying to be a transportation planner and have to do a thesis or dissertation, please consider studying different ways that California could improve ...

Filmmakers tackle California’s high-speed rail project

Posted by Steve Hymon on January 25, 2012 9:37 am
Click here to view the embedded video. This excellent segment titled “Train Wars” on the proposed high-speed rail project in California was produced by filmmakers Roger Rudick and Luke ...

Legislative update: high-speed rail

Posted by Steve Hymon on January 24, 2012 4:42 pm
 From Metro’s government relations staff this afternoon:  California’s State Auditor, Elaine Howle, released a follow-up report today on her office’s findings on the California ...

China Fast Forward?

Posted by Joel Epstein on January 24, 2012 9:50 am
Buenos Aires Metro Linea A (Photo Credit: parabuenosaires.com — El Noticiero de la Ciudad)   A recent article in the Los Angeles Times reports that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and a ...

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Kristine Murray
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California High-Speed Rail Authority
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Jeff Barker
jbarker@hsr.ca.gov
916.324.1541