The California High-Speed Rail Authority will be holding its monthly meeting tomorrow, May 5, at the Sacramento City Council Chambers in Sacramento, CA. Several items that may have a significant impact on the Bakersfield and San Joaquin Valley area will be discussed, including possible changes in alignments and station alternatives between Fresno and Bakersfield, as well as changes to the route between the Valley and the mountains to Los Angeles, which is being discussed by the Authority's Operation Commitee this afternoon at 2:30 PM.

Of note is that the Authority is now considering the elimination of certain elevated sections in favor of at-grade sections. The latter sections are now being proposed for Fresno, Corcoran, two locations north and south of Shafter, and in Bakersfield. Elimination of the elevated sections will improve safety due to the additional elimination of at-grade road crossings along the routes and result in enhanced visual and noise reduction benefits.

Additionally, the connection south of Bakersfield had been recommended to follow a route along state highway 58 to Palmdale and then back to the Los Angeles (Sylmar) area. New information on costs and objections raised by some communities aloNg the route has caused the Authority's staff to re-consider an earlier route that had been dismissed. That route, which would roughly follow I-5 between Grapevine and Santa Clarita, may now be looked at once again in more detail as a viable alternative.

For more information:

Details on at-grade sections: Fresno to Bakersfield Alternatives

Details on I-5/Grapevine to Santa Clarita Alternative: Operating Committee Agenda

May 5 meeting agenda: CHSRA Meeting Agenda