California high-speed rail planners have taken a step toward closing a gap in the state’s long-term rail network: a link between Palmdale and Victor Valley that could eventually connect California’s system with Brightline West’s planned Las Vegas service.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority and the High Desert Corridor Joint Powers Agency (HDCJPA) announced on Monday that they have signed a memorandum of understanding to coordinate work on environmental approvals, station planning and design, with a particular focus on Palmdale Station.
Why It Matters
California’s high-speed rail project aims to carry passengers between Los Angeles and San Francisco at speeds of up to 220 mph, but it has faced years of delays, funding gaps and escalating costs. Approved by voters in 2008 with an expected 2020 completion date, the project remains unfinished.
What To Know
The HDC JPA includes Los Angeles County, LA Metro, Palmdale, Lancaster, Adelanto and Victorville, and is leading work on the High Desert Multipurpose Corridor, including a first-phase high-speed intercity rail connection between Palmdale and Victor Valley.
That stretch is significant because Victor Valley is also part of Brightline West’s route between Southern California and Las Vegas. Brightline West says its 218-mile electric passenger rail line will run from Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga, largely in the Interstate 15 corridor, with a Victor Valley station included in its plans…