About Us

HDC JPA Board Member Alternates

Richard Loa, Council Member, City of Palmdale

Bob Harriman, Council Member, City of Victorville

Daniel Ramos, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Adelanto

HDC JPA Staff

Arthur V. Sohikian, Executive Director

About the Project

The High Desert Corridor (HDC) is a proposed multipurpose transportation route connecting Antelope Valley in Los Angeles County with Victor Valley in San Bernardino County. The first phase is a 54-mile high-speed rail project between the two fast growing regions.

The HDC is funded by the voter-approved Los Angeles County Measure M Expenditure Plan with nearly $170 million in the current and near-term fiscal years as well as $1.9 billion in later years (2063-2067) that could leverage federal, state, and private funds to construct the HDC High Speed Rail Project.

Project Status

The High Desert Corridor JPA FY23-24 budget is fully funded to continue the study of a new intercity high-speed rail corridor, which received California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) clearance in June 2016. The HDC JPA is working on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process with the Federal Railroad Administration.

The High Desert Corridor High Speed Rail Project objective is to proceed with NEPA environmental clearance and CEQA addendum with a goal to receive the Record of Decision (ROD/NOD), Notice of Determination approvals. This will advance environmental clearance for the high-speed rail project to advance the project design, engineering, and other project development activities.

Concurrently, LA Metro is finalizing the HDC Intercity Rail Service Development Plan & Funding Plan, a key component to receive federal and state funds. The Plan is funded with $5.0 million of HDC Measure M funds, $1.375 million in CalSTA 2018 Transit Intercity Rail Capital Plan State grant funds under the Network Integration category, and $625K from Brightline West ($250K in cash and $375K of in-kind contributions).

Recent Milestones

• January 2023: Metro allocates $8.5M in Measure M funds as local match for federal & state grants.

• January 2023: Draft Service Development Plan (SDP) submitted to FRA by Metro/HDC. The Plan is funded with $5.0 million of HDC Measure M funds, $1.375 million in CalSTA 2018 Transit Intercity Rail Capital Plan State grant funds under the Network Integration category, and $625K from Brightline West ($250K in cash and $375K of in-kind contributions).

• February 2023: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) conducts NEPA Workshop.

• April 2023: $8M CalSTA Transit & Intercity Rail Capital Program grant award for Preliminary Engineering Design.

• December 2023: $500,000 Federal Railroad Administration Corridor Identification & Development Program grant award.

• April 2024: HDC JPA approves FY25 budget for Metro May 2024 consideration.

• April 2024: HDC JPA approves project agreements with Union Labor groups for the Construction, Operation and Maintenance of the High Speed Rail Project.

Benefits

• The HDC represents a significant investment in historically underserved and underinvested communities in the high desert communities of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

• The high-speed rail project, a zero-emission rail technology, will reduce vehicle miles traveled, contributing to improved air quality and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

• The high-speed rail project will provide mobility connections from rural communities to major urban centers.

• The high-speed rail project is expected to generate more than $12 billion in economic activity during development and construction.

• New business development will help create jobs closer to and within the growing communities in the Southern California High Desert