Engineering firm, HDR has been appointed by the High Desert Corridor Joint Powers Agency to deliver design and advisory services for a new intercity passenger rail line in Southern California.

The 54-mile corridor will link Palmdale in Los Angeles County with Victorville in San Bernardino County, forming part of the wider high-speed rail vision for the state.

High Desert Corridor station

© High Desert Corridor JPA

The proposed service is expected to operate at speeds of up to 180 miles per hour, offering a direct connection between the Antelope Valley and the planned Brightline West station. In the longer term, the corridor is intended to help establish continuous high-speed rail travel between Southern California, Las Vegas, and northern parts of the state.

HDR Global Transit Director Matt Tucker said:

Delivering the engineering and advisory services associated with the High Desert Corridor requires a multidisciplinary team that can maximise a broad array of opportunities and tackle diverse challenges with resilience, technical expertise and unwavering focus. We have an exceptional team gathered with world-class expertise in large-scale transit corridors. This is great news for Southern California and the future of high-speed rail in the United States.

HDR’s contract covers a broad scope of responsibilities over a five-year period. These include detailed rail and bridge design, station and systems integration, development of operations and maintenance facilities, environmental support, stakeholder engagement, procurement, and contract administration.

The project is seen as a step towards expanding regional mobility options, while improving access to employment and housing and supporting economic development in the area.

Girair Kotchian, HDR’s project manager said:

The High Desert Corridor will improve connectivity and accessibility for millions of travellers, generate billions in economic activity, and open new opportunities for the whole region. It’s a privilege to be involved with such a momentous project for Southern California.

Work on the corridor is currently at the stage of environmental documentation and preliminary engineering. Construction is anticipated to begin in the early part of the next decade, subject to approvals and funding.

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