DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 16: An aerial view of an Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train passing along eroding cliffs at the Pacific Ocean coastline on August 16, 2024 in Del Mar, California. Rising sea levels and stronger storms have contributed to increased erosion and landslides along the vital Amtrak Pacific Surfliner coastal rail corridor which runs over 350 miles through Southern California to California’s Central Coast. Erosion and landslides on coastal bluffs led to three extended closures along the route in 2023 and 2024 and twelve shutdowns in the past six years. With climate change expected to bring more intense storms and higher seas, most officials believe vulnerable sections of the corridor will need to be moved inland. The scenic route is the second-most popular Amtrak corridor in the country and also serves commuter and freight trains. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Millbrae, California – California’s ambitious high-speed rail project overcame a major roadblock this week after the City of Millbrae and the California High-Speed Rail Authority reached a settlement that clears the way for key infrastructure development in the Bay Area.
The agreement, announced Tuesday, resolves a legal dispute that had threatened to stall construction of a critical train station near the existing Millbrae BART hub. City officials had raised concerns that the project would override local control over land use and fail to properly integrate with existing transit services such as BART, Caltrain, and SamTrans.
Under the terms of the deal, the City of Millbrae will retain oversight of land use and planning on the west side of the BART station, while the High-Speed Rail Authority will move forward with designing and implementing rail facilities that connect seamlessly with the region’s existing transportation infrastructure.
“This is a momentous milestone for Millbrae,” said Mayor Anders Fung in a statement. “This historic settlement represents our commitment to realizing our true potential — where high quality public transit integrates with housing and economic development to energize the future of a thriving city.”
Millbrae’s cooperation is critical to the success of the high-speed rail’s first phase, as trains must pass through the area to reach San Francisco. The broader project aims to link Los Angeles to the Central Valley, with current construction focused on the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment.
Margaret Cederoth, director of planning and sustainability for the High-Speed Rail Authority, emphasized the project’s environmentally conscious approach: “Even in construction, we’re committed to advancing this program cleanly, with the Authority’s policies and practices leading us to reduce or avoid more equivalent emissions in the Central Valley than have been created so far.”
According to the Authority, track work is expected to begin in spring 2025, including installation of mainline turnouts and siding tracks to support operations alongside existing freight rail service. Construction on Central Valley stations is also scheduled to begin in 2025, along with the selection of a train manufacturer.
The resolution in Millbrae signals renewed momentum for the $128 billion high-speed rail project, which has faced years of delays, legal battles, and funding challenges since its inception. Officials are now optimistic that unified planning efforts will bring the long-promised vision of fast, clean, and integrated rail travel across California closer to reality.
