California has been pushing hard toward a future of cleaner, faster, and smarter transportation. From the bullet train to Vegas to the ambitious train to New York, high-speed rails are starting to feel less like a dream and more like a real possibility.
Now, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CAHSR) has just released its draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Los Angeles-to-Anaheim segment, a critical 30-mile corridor. This publication officially opens the public comment period, giving residents, local governments, and advocacy groups a chance to weigh in on the project’s details.
The draft EIR lays out two build alternatives, both of which would share tracks with existing passenger rail. The preferred option includes a maintenance and storage facility at 26th Street in Vernon, while a secondary location at 15th Street in DTLAis also being considered. Key upgrades would include full grade separations at major intersections like Pioneer Boulevard and Norwalk Boulevard, while some existing grade crossings in Anaheim would remain.
The LA-to-Anaheim high-speed rail project
The stretch of this new rail network is expected to stretch about 30-mile, connecting Union Station to ARTIC. Trains on this segment are part of California’s high-speed rail system, designed to provide much faster travel than existing rail or car options.
Station upgrades are planned for Commerce, Buena Park, Fullerton, and Norwalk to handle high-speed trains, as intermediate stops are being evaluated. The estimated cost for this segment is projected at around $6.9 billion.