High Speed Rail
California high-speed rail will connect the mega-regions of the state, contribute to economic development and a cleaner environment, create jobs and preserve agricultural and protected lands. By 2029, the system will run from San Francisco to the Los Angeles basin in under three hours at speeds capable of over 200 miles per hour.
High-Speed Rail Routes
The high-speed rail system planned for California will eventually encompass over 800 miles of rail, with up to 24 stations. Because the project is so large, and will run through areas of the state with extremely different geographical, environmental and economic issues, the project has been broken into ten separate sections, two of which go through Kern County.
Private Property and High-Speed Rail
The California High-Speed Rail Authority understands that private property owners will be affected by the proposed construction of the high-speed rail system. In light of this fact, the Authority has committed to do everything it can to educate, inform, and work collaboratively with affected property owners.
The documents on this page provide an at-a-glance reference for frequently asked questions and an overview of the procedures for acquiring property, the right-of-way process and the Permit-to-Enter process.
Heavy Maintenance Facility
In 2009, the California High Speed Rail Authority released a Request for Expression of Interest to site a Heavy Maintenance Facility (HMF) in the Central Valley. Kern COG submitted two proposals. One to be located in Shafter just north of the International Trade and Transportation Center and 7th Standard Rd and Santa Fe Way. The other located on the east side of Wasco below Highway 46. There were 15 proposals submitted statewide.
- Kern HMF Sites Guide
- Shafter proposal and Wasco proposal
- HMF Comparison Matrix
- High-Speed Rail HMF in Kern County Economic Impact Study – 2010
- Kern County High Speed Rail Maintenance Facility Analysis – 2003
- Kern County HMF Brochure – 2010
Other Documents
- Planning Transit-Oriented Development Around HSR Stations in Fresno and Bakersfield – 2010
- Metro Bakersfield High Speed Rail Terminal Impact Analysis – 2003
- Metro Bakersfield High Speed Rail Terminal Analysis and Evaluation – 2001
- Metro Bakersfield High Speed Ground Transportation System Terminal Study – 1994
Visit the California High Speed Rail Authority