United States: California High-Speed Rail and High Desert Corridor Agency Sign MOU

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and the High Desert Corridor Joint Powers Authority (HDC JPA) have signed a memorandum of understanding to coordinate planning on the corridor connecting Palmdale and Victorville, the agencies announced on 20 July.

The MOU covers coordination on environmental clearances, station integration and design at Palmdale Station, coordinated materials purchases intended to reduce public costs, and collaborative construction planning to accelerate delivery. The High Desert Multipurpose Corridor is intended to link CHSRA's high-speed line at Palmdale with the Brightline West line at Victorville, closing the gap between California's high-speed rail system and the Las Vegas route.

The HDC JPA's membership includes Los Angeles County, LA Metro, and the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster in Los Angeles County, alongside Adelanto and Victorville in San Bernardino County.

CHSRA CEO Ian Choudri said the partnership "underscores the momentum behind building a clean, modern transportation system that will serve Californians for generations" as the Authority prepares to begin track, electrification and systems installation in the Central Valley later this year. Kathryn Barger, HDC JPA Chair and Los Angeles County Supervisor, said the MOU is "a pivotal step toward a fully connected, electrified high speed rail network across California," adding that coordinating planning, design and station integration at Palmdale lays the groundwork to better link Southern California to the statewide system.

The agencies did not specify a timeline for the High Desert Corridor segment itself in the announcement.