NEWS RELEASE: California High-Speed Rail Extends Public Comment Period for Palmdale to Burbank Project Section

September 27, 2022

LOS ANGELES – The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) is extending the public review period for the Palmdale to Burbank Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) an additional 30 days to Dec. 1, 2022.

The draft environmental document for the more than 30-mile segment connecting the Antelope Valley to the San Fernando Valley has been available to the public since Sept. 2, 2022. The Authority provided more than the legally required review period upon its release to allow for more time to review the document. The law requires a minimum of 45 days for public comment.

During the 90-day review period the Authority is continuing to work with stakeholders and offering office hours to help the public navigate the document and answer stakeholder questions.

The public can continue to submit comments on the Palmdale to Burbank Draft EIR/EIS the following ways:

• By mail to Attn: “Palmdale to Burbank Draft EIR/EIS Comment”, California High-Speed Rail Authority, 355 S. Grand Avenue, Suite 2050, Los Angeles, CA 90071;
• Through the Authority’s website www.hsr.ca.gov;
• By email to Palmdale_Burbank@hsr.ca.gov with the subject line “Palmdale to Burbank Draft EIR/EIS Comment”;
• Verbal comment on the direct phone line for the Palmdale to Burbank Project Section at (800) 630-1039; and
• Oral testimony at the online Public Hearing on Oct. 18, 2022.

Comments must be received electronically or postmarked on or before 5 p.m. PST on Dec. 1, 2022.

After the comment period closes Dec. 1, 2022, and the comments received have been evaluated, staff will prepare and issue the Final EIR/EIS with responses to comments. Staff will then present the Final EIR/EIS to the Authority Board of Directors next year to consider certification and project approval under the California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act.

The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being or have been carried out by the State of California pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated July 23, 2019, and executed by the Federal Railroad Administration and the State of California.

To view the contents of the Draft EIR/EIS, please visit the Authority’s website: www.hsr.ca.gov

California high-speed rail is currently under construction along 119 miles in California’s Central Valley at 35 active job sites. To date, more than 8,600 construction jobs have been created since the start of construction. For more visit: www.buildhsr.com

The following link contains recent video, animations, photography, press center resources and latest renderings: https://hsra.app.box.com/s/vyvjv9hckwl1dk603ju15u07fdfir2q8

These files are all available for free use, courtesy of the California High-Speed Rail Authority.