Metro, 9/8/22
Project Looks to Bring High-Speed Rail to California’s High Desert
With the building of roads being an issue, the line is expected to serve 35,000 people per day to connect to work and other necessary travel.
Photo: HDC
Following some hiccups, high-speed rail in California continues to move closer to a reality. Proof of that point is what is being dubbed the High Desert Corridor (HDC) — an estimated $4.3 billion project, which is currently projected to launch in 2030, that will also connect to the California High-Speed Rail system, the Metrolink commuter rail system, and the Las Vegas High-Speed Rail project.
The proposed 54-mile line would connect Palmdale to the Town of Apple Valley in under 30 minutes with reliable daily frequencies on trains projected to be able to hit 220 miles per hour, although the actual speed is more likely to hit 185 miles per hour, according to HDC officials. The system would also enable riders to connect to Las Vegas via the Brightline West (formerly the DesertXpress or XpressWest) high-speed rail system in about 110 minutes.
“The High Desert Corridor Rail Project is a bold and critical component that supports one of my consistent priorities: transforming regional mobility for our residents and labor force,” says HDC Joint Powers Authority (JPA) Chair Kathryn Barger. "Based on the transportation goals of our state and federal governments, I believe there’s a lot of synergy when it comes to this project. It certainly checks all the boxes.”
