The Palmdale to Burbank section of the California High-Speed Rail system spans diverse landscapes, including rural, suburban, and urban areas of Southern California, as well as the Angeles National Forest and the San Gabriel Mountains. The 40-mile connection links the high desert communities of Palmdale and Lancaster to the major employment hubs of Los Angeles and Burbank. To traverse the rugged terrain of the San Gabriel Mountains, which reach elevations of up to 6,000 feet, the project includes 12- to 18-mile-long deep tunnels.
Circlepoint played a key role as part of an interdisciplinary team, leading the CEQA and NEPA environmental documentation process. This involved coordinating a wide array of experts to prepare complex technical analyses addressing unique and wide-ranging environmental issues. Key challenges included:
- Environmental justice concerns related to air quality, noise, and land use impacts in both high desert and urban Los Angeles communities.
- Hydrogeology and biological impacts, including effects on important habitats and fully protected fish species.
- The potential realignment of over a mile of the Pacific Crest Trail, a designated National Scenic Trail.
One particularly complex challenge was managing the significant amounts of rock and soil excavated during tunnel construction. Circlepoint collaborated with the California High-Speed Rail Authority to develop innovative approaches for estimating truck traffic required to haul tunnel spoils, and for assessing the local and regional traffic, noise, and air quality impacts of this activity.
Because a large portion of the project alternatives traversed the Angeles National Forest, close coordination with the U.S. Forest Service was essential. Circlepoint ensured the environmental documentation met the requirements for securing a Special Use Permit to construct the project, much of which is underground, within the national forest.
The project also required active engagement with numerous state and federal agencies, including:
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Bureau of Land Management
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Regional Water Quality Control Board
In June 2024, the California High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors approved the final environmental document for the 38-mile Palmdale to Burbank segment. This milestone marked a significant step forward, completing the environmental clearance for the entire high-speed rail system from downtown San Francisco to downtown Los Angeles. With this approval, the project is closer to being “shovel-ready” as funding becomes available.
