Sener Plays Key Role as California’s High-Speed Rail Project Achieves Environmental Certification for Palmdale-Burbank Segment

Sener Plays Key Role as California’s High-Speed Rail Project Achieves Environmental Certification for Palmdale-Burbank Segment

(IN BRIEF) The Palmdale-Burbank segment of California’s high-speed rail project, connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles, has received environmental certification from the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA). This section, covering approximately 70 kilometers, includes complex tunneling and traverses various landscapes. Sener, the leading engineering firm on the project since 2015, has coordinated efforts among over 30 companies to conduct design, environmental impact assessments, and public engagement. The line will feature advanced safety technologies and aims to provide a sustainable transport option, connecting major Californian cities with speeds of up to 400 km/h.

(PRESS RELEASE) MADRID, 2-Oct-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — In a significant milestone for California’s ambitious high-speed rail project, the Palmdale-Burbank section of the San Francisco-Los Angeles line has received environmental certification from the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA). This section, which spans approximately 70 kilometers, traverses a diverse landscape of urban, rural, and natural areas, forming a crucial part of Phase 1 of the state’s high-speed rail system.

Sener, the leading firm on this project since 2015, was awarded the contract for engineering and environmental services by the CHSRA. The company’s responsibilities have included the preliminary design, alternative analyses, and ultimately identifying the preferred solution for the rail line. Furthermore, Sener has conducted the environmental impact assessment and developed the conceptual designs for the Palmdale and Burbank stations. Their work also involved pinpointing the necessary rights of way for the track layout and auxiliary facilities, alongside supporting the CHSRA with public engagement throughout the process.

As the primary consultant, Sener has successfully coordinated efforts among over 30 companies, including prominent North American engineering and environmental firms, navigating the complexities inherent in this technically challenging project. Notably, the Palmdale-Burbank segment will incorporate 45 kilometers of tunnels, featuring two extensive tunnels exceeding 20 kilometers in length, situated in seismic zones and crossing significant geological faults such as the San Andreas, San Gabriel, and Sierra Madre faults.

This vital rail segment is set to provide a sustainable transportation option, enhancing connectivity between California’s major metropolitan areas. Equipped with cutting-edge signaling and safety technologies—including positive train control (PTC), anti-intrusion barriers, and earthquake early warning systems—the Palmdale-Burbank line will prioritize passenger safety and operational efficiency.

The California High-Speed Rail is poised to be the first high-speed rail network in the United States. When completed, it will link major urban centers—San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego—across a total distance of 1,287 kilometers and 24 stations. The service is projected to allow travel between San Francisco and the Los Angeles basin in under three hours, reaching speeds of up to 400 km/h.

Sener is a leading engineering and technology group that develops the most advanced and innovative solutions in different markets, with the aim of contributing to the progress of society in a sustainable environment, through its commitment to customers, people and the environment.

SOURCE: SENER group