1. Home
  2. Programs
  3. Environmental Planning
  4. Project Section Environmental Documents (Tier 2)
  5. Merced to Fresno: Central Valley Wye: Environmental Documents

Project Section Environmental Documents

MERCED TO FRESNO: CENTRAL VALLEY WYE

 

Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) has prepared the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the Central Valley Wye portion of the Merced to Fresno Section of the California High-Speed Rail (HSR) Project. The Final Supplemental EIR/EIS has been prepared and is being made available pursuant to both the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

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. Code 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated July 23, 2019, and executed by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the State of California. Under that MOU, the Authority is the project’s lead agency under NEPA. Prior to the July 23, 2019, MOU, the FRA was the federal lead agency.

This Final Supplemental EIR/EIS was prepared as a supplement to the 2012 Final EIR/EIS for the Merced to Fresno Section of the California HSR Project (Merced to Fresno Final EIR/EIS), which was certified/approved by the Authority as CEQA lead agency and by the FRA as the NEPA lead agency.

Following completion of the Merced to Fresno Final EIR/EIS in May 2012, the Authority and FRA approved portions of the “Preferred Alternative” (i.e., the Hybrid Alternative) outside the wye for the north-south HSR alignment and the Downtown Merced and Downtown Fresno Mariposa Street station locations. Both agencies deferred a decision on the area known as the “wye connection,” which refers to the HSR connection between the east-west San Jose to Merced Section to the west and the north-south Merced to Fresno Section to the east, to allow for additional environmental analysis. This Final Supplemental EIR/EIS is the next step in the environmental review process for the Authority to select a wye connection. This document evaluates the impacts and benefits of implementing a wye connection in the geographically limited area of the wye connection between the cities of Merced and Madera. It is based on additional project planning and engineering that has occurred over the last several years.

As CEQA lead agency, the Authority prepared and released the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS in May 2019. In July 2019, the Authority received NEPA Assignment from the FRA, as noted above. The Authority, as NEPA lead agency, released the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS (the same document as under CEQA) to satisfy the NEPA public comment and review period in September 2019. Responses to public comments received during the CEQA and NEPA review periods are part of this Final Supplemental EIR/EIS and included in Volume IV.

After publication of the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS, the Authority learned of a new listing of a bumblebee species, Crotch bumble bee (Bombus crotchii), as a candidate for the California Endangered Species Act that may be present in the relevant resource study area for the Central Valley Wye alternatives. As a result, pursuant to both CEQA and NEPA, the Revised Draft Supplemental EIR/Second Draft Supplemental EIS (Revised/Second Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS) was recirculated for a 45-day public comment period. Responses to comments received during the review period for the Revised/Second Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS are part of this Final Supplemental EIR/EIS and included in Volume IV.

This Final Supplemental EIR/EIS evaluates the No Project Alternative and four Central Valley Wye alternatives: the State Route (SR) 152 (North) to Road 11 Wye Alternative, SR 152 (North) to Road 13 Wye Alternative, SR 152 (North) to Road 19 Wye Alternative, and Avenue 21 to Road 13 Wye Alternative The Authority’s “Preferred Alternative” in this Final Supplemental EIR/EIS is the SR 152 (North) to Road 11 Wye Alternative.

FINAL SUPPLEMENTAL EIR/EIS: MERCED TO FRESNO SECTION: CENTRAL VALLEY WYE

Many of the documents identified below are available electronically in Adobe Acrobat PDF format, which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have a copy of this free software, you can download it from Adobe at https://get.adobe.com/reader/. If you already have a copy of this software, simply click on the links and the documents will open automatically. Note: many of these files are very large and could take several minutes to download. Please call (916) 324-1541 to request electronic copies of documents listed below that are not available on this website.

In addition to posting sections of the Final Supplemental EIR/EIS on this website, printed and/or electronic copies have been made available at the following locations during hours the facilities are open (open days/hours may be reduced for compliance with coronavirus public health and safety directives): Chowchilla Branch Library (300 Kings Avenue, Chowchilla), Madera County Library (121 North G Street, Madera), Merced County Library (2100 O Street, Merced), Madera County Clerk (200 W 4th Street, Madera), and Merced County Clerk (2222 M Street, Merced).

Printed and electronic copies of the Final Supplemental EIR/EIS, along with electronic copies of the associated technical reports, are available for review during business hours at the Authority’s office at 770 L Street, Suite 620 MS-1, Sacramento, CA, and the Authority’s office at 1111 H Street, Fresno, CA. You may also request an electronic copy of the Final Supplemental EIR/EIS by calling (916) 324-1541.

Document Organization

The Central Valley Wye Final Supplemental EIR/EIS includes the following volumes:

  • Volume I: Report
  • Volume II: Technical Appendices
  • Volume III: Alignment Plans
  • Volume IV: Responses to Comments

The purpose of environmental documents is to disclose information to decision-makers and the public. While the science and analysis that supports this Final Supplemental EIR/EIS is complex, this document is intended for the general public. Use of technical terms and acronyms has been limited. Terms and acronyms are defined the first time they are used, and a list of acronyms and abbreviations is provided in Chapter 15 of this document.

The Executive Summary provides an overview of all of the substantive chapters. It includes a table listing the potential environmental impacts for each environmental resource topic and directs the reader where to get details in the rest of the document.

Approval Documents

Education Materials

Notices

Volume I: Report

Volume II: Technical Appendices

Volume III: Alignment Plans

Volume III documents are available with the Merced to Fresno: Central Valley Wye Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS.

Volume IV: Responses to Comments

Technical Reports

  • Technical Reports are available with the Merced to Fresno: Central Valley Wye Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS.

Checkpoint A

  • Checkpoint A is available with the Merced to Fresno Draft EIR/EIS.

Checkpoint B

  • Checkpoint B is available with the Merced to Fresno Draft EIR/EIS.
  • Supplemental Checkpoint B Summary Report and Addenda are available with the Merced to Fresno: Central Valley Wye Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS.

Checkpoint C

  • Supplemental Checkpoint C Summary Report is available with the Merced to Fresno: Central Valley Wye Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS.

Brief Explanation of Each Volume and Chapter

Volume I: Report

Chapter 1.0, Introduction and Purpose, Need, and Objectives, explains the Authority’s purpose and need for the Merced to Fresno Section, including the Central Valley Wye, and it provides a history of the planning process.

Chapter 2.0, Alternatives, describes the proposed Central Valley Wye alternatives, as well as the No Project Alternative used for purposes of comparison. It contains illustrations and maps and provides a review of construction activities. These first two chapters help the reader understand what is being analyzed in the remainder of the document.

Chapter 3.0, Affected Environment, Environmental Consequences, and Mitigation Measures, provides information about the existing transportation, environmental, and social conditions in the area of the Central Valley Wye. This chapter provides the findings of the analysis of potential environmental impacts, along with methods to reduce these impacts (called mitigation measures).

Chapter 4.0, Final Section 4(f) and Section 6(f) Evaluations, provides the analysis to support determinations made under Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 and Section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act.

Chapter 5.0, Environmental Justice, discusses whether the Central Valley Wye alternatives may cause disproportionate impacts on low-income and minority communities. It also identifies mitigation to reduce those impacts where appropriate.

Chapter 6.0, Project Costs and Operations, summarizes the estimated capital and operations and maintenance costs for each Central Valley Wye alternative evaluated in this Final Supplemental EIR/EIS, including funding and financial risk.

Chapter 7.0, Other NEPA/CEQA Considerations, summarizes the Central Valley Wye alternatives’ environmental effects under NEPA, the significant adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided under CEQA, and the significant irreversible environmental changes that would occur as a result of the Central Valley Wye alternatives or irretrievable commitments of resources or foreclosure of future options.

Chapter 8.0, Preferred Alternative, describes the Preferred Alternative and the basis for identifying the Preferred Alternative.

Chapter 9.0, Public and Agency Involvement, contains summaries of coordination and outreach activities with agencies and the general public during preparation of this Final Supplemental EIR/EIS. In addition, this chapter contains a list of common comments and the responses to this subset of comments.

Chapter 10.0, Final Supplemental EIR/EIS Distribution, identifies the public agencies, tribes, and organizations that were informed of the availability of, and locations to obtain, this Final Supplemental EIR/EIS.

Chapter 11.0, List of Preparers, provides the names and responsibilities of the authors of this Final Supplemental EIR/EIS.

Chapter 12.0, References/Sources Used in Document Preparation, cites the references and contacts used in writing this Final Supplemental EIR/EIS.

Chapter 13.0, Glossary of Terms, provides a definition of certain terms used in this Final Supplemental EIR/EIS.

Chapter 14.0, Index, provides a tool to cross-reference major topics used in this Final Supplemental EIR/EIS.

Chapter 15.0, Acronyms and Abbreviations, defines the acronyms and abbreviations used in this Final Supplemental EIR/EIS.

Volume II: Technical Appendices

The technical appendices provide additional details on the Central Valley Wye alternatives and the Final Supplemental EIR/EIS process. Technical appendices included in Volume II are primarily related to the affected environment and environmental consequences analyses. These appendices are numbered to match their corresponding section in Chapter 3, as well as Chapter 2, of this Final Supplemental EIR/EIS (e.g., 3.7-A is the first appendix for Section 3.7, Biological Resources and Wetlands).

Volume III: Alignment Plans

These are detailed design drawings, including trackway and roadway crossing design.

Volume IV: Responses to Comments on the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS and Revised Draft Supplemental EIR/Second Draft Supplemental EIS

This section includes comments received on the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS during the separate review periods for CEQA and NEPA, comments received on the Revised Draft Supplemental EIR/Second Draft Supplemental EIS and the responses to these comments.

Revised Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report/ Second Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, Biological Resources Analysis

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) announces the availability of a joint revised draft supplemental environmental impact report/environmental impact statement to address a bumble bee species that was recently listed as a state candidate species and may contain habitat within the Central Valley Wye study area.

This document was prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and is entitled “Merced to Fresno Section: Central Valley Wye Revised Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report/Second Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, Biological Resources Analysis” (referred to below as “Revised/Second Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS”). The Revised/Second Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS was prepared as a limited revision to the previously published Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement (Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS), a supplement to the 2012 Final EIR/EIS for the Merced to Fresno Section of the California High-Speed Rail Project (Merced to Fresno Final EIR/EIS), which was certified/approved by the Authority as the CEQA lead agency and by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) as the NEPA lead agency.

Following the Authority’s publication of the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS for CEQA purposes in May 2019 and subsequent publication of the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS for NEPA purposes in September 2019, the Authority learned of the new listing by the State of California Department of Fish and Wildlife of a bumble bee species that may be present in the relevant resource study area for the Central Valley Wye alternatives. The Authority, as lead CEQA and NEPA agency for the Central Valley Wye, is issuing this Revised/Second Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS limited to the portions of the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS that would require revision based on the new information about the candidate species. New information includes background information, methodology, impact analysis, and mitigation measures.

The section and appendix comprising the Revised/Second Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS are:

  1. Section 3.7, Biological Resources and Wetlands
  2. Section 3.19.6.6, Cumulative Impacts, Biological Resources and Wetlands
  3. Appendix 3.7-C-2, Biological Resources and Wetlands Special-Status Wildlife

The Authority reviewed other sections of the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS and found, based on research and a review of the evidence, that no other substantive changes would be required, including Section 3.19, Cumulative Impacts.

MERCED TO FRESNO SECTION: CENTRAL VALLEY WYE REVISED DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT/ SECOND DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT, BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES ANALYSIS

The following documents are available electronically in Adobe Acrobat PDF format, which require Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have a copy of this free software, you can download it from Adobe at http://get.adobe.com/reader. If you already have a copy of this software, simply click on the links and it will open up automatically. Note: some of these files are very large and could take up to several minutes to download.

In addition to posting the Revised/Second Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS on this website, printed and electronic copies are provided at the following public libraries and county clerk offices: Chowchilla Branch Library (300 Kings Avenue, Chowchilla), Madera County Library (121 North G Street, Madera), Merced County Library (2100 O St, Merced), Madera County Clerk (200 W 4th St, Madera), and Merced County Clerk (2222 M St, Merced).

Printed and electronic copies of the Central Valley Wye Revised/Second Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS are available for review during business hours at the Authority’s office at 770 L Street, Suite 620 MS-1, Sacramento, CA, and the Authority’s office at 1111 H Street, Fresno, CA. You may also request an electronic copy of the Revised/Second Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS by calling (916) 324-1541.

The 2012 Merced to Fresno Final EIR/EIS and 2018 Central Valley Wye Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS can be accessed by requesting an electronic copy by calling (916) 324-1541.

Submitting a Comment

The comment period is closed.

Notices

Revised/Second Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS

Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) announces the availability of a draft supplemental environmental impact statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) entitled “Merced to Fresno Section: Central Valley Wye Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement” (referred to below as “Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS”). This document was prepared as a supplement to the 2012 Final EIR/EIS for the Merced to Fresno Section of the California High-Speed Rail Project (Merced to Fresno Final EIR/EIS), which was certified/approved by the Authority as California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) lead agency and by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) as the NEPA lead agency. The present Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS contains all the content required by CEQA and NEPA, however, the CEQA portion of this document was presented to the public in May and June of 2019.

On July 23, 2019, Governor Newsom executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with FRA under the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program (known as NEPA Assignment), pursuant to the legal authority under 23 U.S.C. section 327. Under NEPA Assignment, the State, acting through the California State Transportation Agency and the Authority, has assumed FRA’s responsibilities under NEPA and other federal environmental laws, as assigned by FRA under the MOU. These responsibilities that California will now carry out, pursuant to 23 U.S.C. section 327 and the MOU, include environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project. The Authority as NEPA lead agency is therefore issuing the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS pursuant to NEPA only at this time for public and agency comments. Content in the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS that is specific or pertaining to CEQA is for information only at this time.

Following its certification of the Merced to Fresno Final EIR/EIS in May 2012, the Authority approved portions of the “Preferred Alternative” (Hybrid Alternative) outside the wye for the north/south alignment of the high‐speed rail and the Downtown Merced and Downtown Fresno Mariposa Street station locations. The FRA made a similar decision. Both agencies elected to defer a decision on the area known as the “wye connection” – that is, the east-west HSR connection between the San Jose to Merced Section to the west and the north-south Merced to Fresno Section to the east, to allow for additional environmental analysis. This Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS is the next step in the NEPA environmental review process for the Authority to select a wye connection. This document evaluates the impacts and benefits of implementing a wye connection in the geographically limited area of the wye connection between the cities of Merced and Madera and is based on additional project planning and engineering that has occurred over the last several years.

The Preferred Alternative in this Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS, is the State Route (SR) 152 (North) to Road 11 Wye Alternative. This Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS also evaluates the No Project Alternative and four Central Valley Wye alternatives: the SR 152 (North) to Road 13 Wye Alternative, SR 152 (North) to Road 19 Wye Alternative, and Avenue 21 to Road 13 Wye Alternative.

DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT/ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

Many of the following documents are available electronically in Adobe Acrobat PDF format, which require Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have a copy of this free software, you can download it from Adobe at https://get.adobe.com/reader/. If you already have a copy of this software, simply click on the links and it will open up automatically. Note: many of these files are very large and could take up to several minutes to download. Documents listed below that are not available electronically are available by requesting an electronic copy on CD by calling (916) 324-1541.

In addition to posting sections of the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS on this website, printed and electronic copies are provided at the following public libraries and county clerk offices: Chowchilla Branch Library (300 Kings Avenue, Chowchilla), Madera County Library (121 North G Street, Madera), Merced County Library (2100 O St, Merced), Madera County Clerk (200 W 4th St, Madera), and Merced County Clerk (2222 M St, Merced).

Printed and electronic copies of the Central Valley Wye Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS, along with electronic copies of the associated technical reports, are available for review during business hours at the Authority’s office at 770 L Street, Suite 620 MS-1, Sacramento, CA, and the Authority’s office at 1111 H Street, Fresno, CA. You may also request an electronic copy on CD of the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS by calling (916) 324-1541.

The 2012 Merced to Fresno Final EIR/EIS can be accessed by requesting an electronic copy on CD by calling (916) 324-1541.

Document Organization

The Central Valley Wye Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS includes the following:

  • Volume I – Report
  • Volume II – Technical Appendices
  • Volume III – Alignment Plans

The purpose of environmental documents is to disclose information to decision makers and the public. While the science and analysis that supports this Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS is complex, this document is intended for the general public. Every attempt has been made to limit technical terms and the use of acronyms. The terms and acronyms are defined the first time they are used and a list of acronyms and abbreviations is provided in Chapter 15 of this document.

The Executive Summary provides an overview of all of the substantive chapters and includes a table listing the potential environmental impacts for each environmental resource topic and directs the reader where to get details elsewhere in the document.

Educational Materials

Notices

Submitting a Comment

On September 13, 2019, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) released, for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) public review and comment, a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS) for the Merced to Fresno Section of the California High-Speed Rail Project. This Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS is focused on the Central Valley Wye. The Central Valley Wye is located near the City of Chowchilla and will serve as the junction for the high-speed rail system connecting San Jose to Fresno, San Jose to Merced, and Merced to Fresno.

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. section 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated July 23, 2019, and executed by the Federal Railroad Administration and the State of California. The present Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS contains all the content required by NEPA and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), however, the CEQA portion of this document was presented to the public in May and June of 2019. The Authority as NEPA lead agency is therefore issuing the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS pursuant to NEPA only at this time for public and agency comments. Content in the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS that is specific or pertaining to CEQA is for information only at this time.

The official NEPA comment period begins Friday, September 13 and ends Monday, October 28, 2019. There are several ways to submit a NEPA comment regarding the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS for the Merced to Fresno Project Section including:

  • Via email at central.valley@hsr.ca.gov
  • Mail your comment to:Attn: Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS for the Merced to Fresno Project Section
    California High-Speed Rail Authority
    770 L Street, Suite 620 MS-1
    Sacramento, CA 95814
  • Leave a verbal comment on the direct line for the Merced to Fresno Project Section at (800) 881-5799.
  • Submit public comment at the hearing on October 1, 2019 between 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The hearing location is at the Little Theater at the Chowchilla-Madera Fairgrounds at 1000 S 3rd Street, Chowchilla CA 93610.

Cómo Presentar un Comentario

El 3 de Septiembre del 2013, la Autoridad del Tren de Alta Velocidad de California (la Autoridad) publicó, para la revisión y apreciación pública, un borrador suplementario del Informe de impacto ambiental de conformidad con la Ley Nacional de Política Ambiental (NEPA) o la Declaración del impacto ambiental (borrador suplementario del Informe de impacto ambiental [Environmental Impact Report, EIR] o la Declaración del impacto ambiental [Environmental Impact Statement, EIS]) sobre la sección de Merced a Fresno del proyecto del Tren de Alta Velocidad de California. Este borrador suplementario del EIR/EIS está enfocado en el Valle Central de Wye. El Valle Central de Wye se localiza cerca de la ciudad de Chowchilla y funcionará como unión del sistema de tren de alta velocidad que conecta a San Jose y Fresno, a San Jose y Merced, y a Merced y Fresno.

La revisión ambiental, consulta y otras acciones requeridas por las leyes ambientales federales aplicables para este proyecto están siendo o han sido llevadas a cabo por el Estado de California de conformidad con la sección 327 del 23 U.S.C. y un Memorando de Entendimiento fechado el 23 de Julio de 2019, y ejecutado por la Administración Federal de Ferrocarriles y el Estado de California. El presente Borrador suplementario del EIR/EIS contiene todo lo requerido por la NEPA y la Ley de Calidad Ambiental de California (CEQA), sin embargo, la porción de CEQA de este documento fue presentada al público en mayo y Junio de 2019. Sin embargo, la parte de la Ley de Calidad Ambiental de California (CEQA) en este documento fue presentada en mayo y Junio de 2019. Así, la autoridad institucional líder como es la NEPA estará emitiendo un Borrador del EIR/EIS siguiendo únicamente a la NEPA en la actualidad, en el caso de los comentarios públicos y de instituciones. El contenido del Borrador del EIR/EIS que sea específico o que tenga relación a la CEQA únicamente será utilizado como guía en esta oportunidad.

El periodo oficial de comentarios comienza el viernes 13 de Septiembre y termina el lunes 28 de Octubre de 2019. Existen varias maneras de presentar un comentario al NEPA sobre el borrador suplementario del EIR/EIS para la sección de Merced a Fresno del proyecto, incluso:

  • Por correo electrónico a CentralValley.Wy@hsr.ca.gov
  • Envíe su comentario por correo postal a:Attn: Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS for the Merced to Fresno Project Section
    California High-Speed Rail Authority
    770 L Street, Suite 620 MS-1
    Sacramento, CA 95814
  • Deje un mensaje de voz en la línea directa de la sección de Merced a Fresno del proyecto al (800) 881-5799.
  • Presente su comentario en público en la audiencia del 1 de Octubre, de 3:00 p. m. a 8:00 p. m. La ubicación de la audiencia será en el Little Theater de la feria de Chowchilla-Madera, 1000 S 3rd Street, Chowchilla CA 93610.

Volume I – Report

Volume II: Technical Appendices

Volume III: Alignment Plans

Technical Reports

Checkpoints

Checkpoint A

  • Checkpoint A is available by requesting an electronic copy on CD by calling (916) 324-1541.

Checkpoint B

Checkpoint C

Brief Explanation of Each Chapter

Volume I – Report

  • Chapter 1.0, Introduction and Purpose, Need, and Objectives, explains the Authority’s purpose and need for the Merced to Fresno Section, including the Central Valley Wye and provides a history of the planning process.
  • Chapter 2.0, Alternatives, describes the proposed Central Valley Wye alternatives, as well as the No Project Alternative used for purposes of comparison. It contains illustrations and maps and provides a review of construction activities. These first two chapters help the reader understand what is being analyzed in the remainder of the document.
  • Chapter 3.0, Affected Environment, Environmental Consequences, and Mitigation Measures, is where the reader can find information about the existing transportation, environmental, and social conditions in the area of the Central Valley Wye. This chapter provides the findings of the analysis of potential environmental impacts, along with methods to reduce these impacts (called mitigation measures).
  • Chapter 4.0, Section 4(f)/Section 6(f) Evaluation, provides the analysis to support determinations made under Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 and Section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act.
  • Chapter 5.0, Environmental Justice, discusses whether the Central Valley Wye alternatives may cause disproportionate impacts on low-income and minority communities. It also identifies mitigation to reduce those impacts where appropriate.
  • Chapter 6.0, Project Costs and Operations, summarizes the estimated capital and operations and maintenance costs for each Central Valley Wye alternative evaluated in this Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS, including funding and financial risk.
  • Chapter 7.0, Other NEPA/CEQA Considerations, summarizes the Central Valley Wye alternatives’ environmental effects under NEPA, the significant adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided under CEQA, and the significant irreversible environmental changes that would occur as a result of the Central Valley Wye alternatives or irretrievable commitments of resources or foreclosure of future options.
  • Chapter 8.0, Preferred Alternative, describes the Preferred Alternative and the basis for identifying the Preferred Alternative.
  • Chapter 9.0, Public and Agency Involvement, contains summaries of coordination and outreach activities with agencies and the general public during preparation of this Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS. In addition, this chapter contains a list of common comments and the responses to this subset of comments.
  • Chapter 10.0, Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS Distribution, identifies the public agencies, tribes, and organizations that were informed of the availability of, and locations to obtain, this Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS.
  • Chapter 11.0, List of Preparers, provides the names and responsibilities of the authors of this Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS.
  • Chapter 12.0, References/Sources Used in Document Preparation, cites the references and contacts used in writing this Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS.
  • Chapter 13.0, Glossary of Terms, provides a definition of certain terms used in this Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS.
  • Chapter 14.0, Index, provides a tool to cross-reference major topics used in this Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS.
  • Chapter 15.0, Acronyms and Abbreviations, defines the acronyms and abbreviations used in this Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS.

Volume II – Technical Appendices

  • Appendices provide additional details on the Central Valley Wye alternatives and the Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS process. Technical appendices, included in Volume II, are primarily related to the affected environment and environmental consequences analyses. These appendices are numbered to match their corresponding section in Chapter 3, as well as Chapter 2, of this Draft Supplemental EIR/EIS (e.g., 3.7-A is the first appendix for Section 3.7, Biological Resources and Wetlands).

Volume III – Alignment Plans

  • These are detailed design drawings, including trackway and roadway crossing design.
Green Practices

PROJECT SECTION ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS

San Francisco to San Jose Project Section

San Jose to Merced Project Section

Merced to Fresno Project Section

Fresno to Bakersfield Project Section

Bakersfield to Palmdale Project Section

Burbank to Los Angeles Project Section

Project Section Details

Select a project section to learn more: 

San Francisco to San Jose San Jose to Merced Merced to Sacramento Merced to Fresno Merced to Fresno - Central Valley Wye Fresno to Bakersfield Fresno to Bakersfield - Locally Generated Alternative Bakersfield to Palmdale Palmdale to Burbank Burbank to Los Angeles Los Angeles to Anaheim Los Angeles to San Diego

CONTACT

Environmental
(916) 324-1541
info@hsr.ca.gov

The California High-Speed Rail Authority makes every effort to ensure the website and its contents meet mandated ADA requirements as per the California State mandated Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level AA standard. If you are looking for a particular document not located on the California High-Speed Rail Authority website, you may make a request for the document under the Public Records Act through the Public Records Act page. If you have any questions about the website or its contents, please contact the Authority at info@hsr.ca.gov.