California High Speed Rail

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) is proposing high-speed train service for travel between Los Angeles and San Diego in the south, to the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento in the north, similar to high-speed rail networks in France and Japan. This system will travel at speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour and is forecast to carry up to 100 million passengers annually for the entire 800 mile high-speed train network by the year 2030. In November 2008, California voters approved Proposition 1A, a $9.95 billion bond providing partial funding for Phase 1 of the proposed 800 mile statewide high-speed rail project. Preliminary route maps for the High Speed Rail project show a station proposed for Modesto.

Project Information


Modesto's Passenger Rail Feasibility Study

In 2010, the City of Modesto won a Caltrans grant to study the feasibility of locating a passenger rail station in downtown Modesto. Modesto is part of Phase 2 of the Proposition 1A High Speed Rail system.

Unlike much of California, Modesto expects both long-distance and commuter rail, as the existing Altamont Commuter Express passenger rail service will be both expanded and improved. Commuter and long-distance trains will share a platform in Modesto, making train travel faster and more convenient.

Modesto’s Passenger Rail Feasibility Study is one small part of a very large plan to improve travel throughout California and to provide a meaningful alternative to driving or flying. If you are interested in participating, now is the time! See the workshop information, resources and City staff contact shown below.

The goals of the Passenger Rail Feasibility Study are to:


  1. Identify the preferred location of a future passenger rail station
  2. Develop a passenger rail station site plan and local transportation interface
  3. Develop a preliminary planning estimate for right-of-way costs for station and rail approach and departure areas, and for alignment within Stanislaus County
  4. Evaluate street / rail crossing alternatives
  5. Identify funding sources and needed policy revisions
  6. Develop recommendations and identify next steps

Workshops


August 10, 2011: Overview and Sitting Criteria
November 16, 2011: Report on Selecting Preferred Station Sites
Spring 2012: Consider Access to Station and Preliminary Site Plan (date TBA)

Also See:

Useful Documents:

For more information, contact Cindy van Empel at 209.577.5267 or cvanempel@modestogov.com.


More Information

For further information, please visit the California High Speed Rail website at www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov