About Us

HDC JPA Board of Directors Members

Kathryn Barger, Chair HDC JPA, Supervisor, 5th Supervisorial District, Los Angeles County

Elizabeth Becerra, Vice Chair HDC JPA, Council Member, City of Victorville

Eric Ohlsen, Council Member, City of Palmdale

Lauren Hughes-Leslie, Council Member, City of Lancaster

Ara Najarian, Chair, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Northern Corridor Cities Representative

Gabriel Reyes, Mayor, City of Adelanto

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

Partners

Los Angeles County

Metro

City of Adelanto

City of Lancaster

City of Palmdale

City of Victorville

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.

2025 HDC Map

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, HDC JPA and LA Metro are 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).

  • Local – Measure M funds committed by Metro are divided into two allocations per the Measure M Expenditure Plan:
    • $170M in early funds available for predevelopment activities: $146 million remaining (May 2024)
    • Funds available for capital construction: $1.86 billion (available in FY2063 – 2067)
  • State – In 2023, CalSTA awarded $8 million TIRCP funds for reimbursed predevelopment-related design engineering expenditures.
  • Federal – In 2023, HDC JPA awarded grant funding under the FRA Corridor ID Program for reimbursed expenditures related to the Service and Financial Development Plan (SDP):
    • $500k for Corridor ID Step 1 (Obligated)
    • $2.3 million for Corridor ID Step 2 (Pending FRA final approval)
  • HDC JPA continues to work to leverage existing funds to advance the project to construction

Recent Milestones

HDC JPA and Union Labor Group
HDC JPA Board Members with Union Labor Leaders after signing agreements for the Construction, Operation and Maintenance of the High Speed Rail Project

Benefits

  • Safety: Improve travel safety and reliability from rural communities to major urban centers in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Counties.

  • Environmental: Utilizing zero-emission technology, the HDC is expected to divert 3.5 million passengers annually from more polluting travel modes, contributing to improved air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Equitable transportation connectivity and mobility options: Unprecedented investment in historically underserved and underinvested communities in the high desert communities of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.
  • Economic: The project is projected to generate over $12 billion in economic activity during its development and construction phases, alongside job creation in the region.

  • Jobs-Housing: New business development will create jobs closer to and within the growing communities in Southern California. Access to affordable housing options.

  • Advances California State Rail Plan: The HDC will link with the Brightline West and California High-Speed Rail projects, facilitating seamless travel for over 30 million people and enhancing regional mobility.

HDC Map
HDC Map
  • 54-mile High Speed Intercity Rail Connector Project
  • EIR/EIS Completed in 2016
  • 8+ year public process, with Federal Railroad Administration as Federal Cooperating Agency
  • HDC Seeking NEPA/Record of Decision approvals
  • Two Environmentally Cleared Stations by:
    • CAHSR Palmdale, LA County, 2021
    • Brightline West, Victor Valley, San Bernardino County, 2023
  • Measure M Expenditure Plan local revenue allocations of:
    • $170M FY2019-21 – Project Development Activities
    • $1.863B in FY2063-67 – Construction
  • To date, ALL funds expended are local and state