California High Speed Rail (COLTON INTERMODAL FACILITY)

This webpage is a link to the latest happenings with the proposed “Colton Component” under the California High Speed Rail system proposed statewide. The “Colton Component” is part of the Los Angeles to Anaheim Project Section of the High Speed Rail project but does not include high speed rail. The “Colton Component” consists of re-routing rail freight that currently travels the Los Angeles to Anaheim route to through the Inland Empire (Colton).  This is intended to accommodate passenger rail, exclusively, along the Los Angeles to Anaheim Section.  

Concurrent with the re-routing of freight traffic, BNSF Railroad is proposing to construct an Intermodal Facility at the former CalPortland Cement site to facilitate the offloading of freight from trains to trucks.  The project will involve new rail connectors from the CalPortland site to existing rail lines, and expansion of existing rail corridors through the City of Colton. The project will add up to ten (10) freight trains per day to the existing level of freight traffic, and an associated increase in truck trips.  An increase of 2,700 average daily truck trips is expected to occur locally.

An Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (“EIR/EIS”) is currently being prepared by the California High Speed Rail Authority and is scheduled for release for public comment in mid- to late 2022. 

LATEST HAPPENINGS, NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM THE CALIFORNIA HIGH -SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY

  • "Colton [is] a disBoard Updateadvantaged community that may be disproportionately impacted by this project. Colton is most burdened by multiple sources of pollution and is vulnerable to the effects of 20 indicators of environmental quality and socioeconomic and public health conditions. The city is also designated as a “Community of Concern” in Southern California Association of Governments (SCG) planning documents.  The addition of 10 freight trains per day and the associated increases in truck trips may offset any positive benefits of the HSR project. Mitigation would have to be extensive to assist in lowering any additional emissions when Colton is already at its highest score for environmental burdens. "(Page 20, June 2023 Southern California Board Update LaDonna DiCamillo)

"The Authority has listened to community and stakeholder input and is proposing to modify the project to meet local concerns. 

The Authority evaluated alternative sites to the Colton location

  • Locating an intermodal facility in a heavily urbanized region proved challenging. Ultimately, the Authority was unable to identify an alternative site to the proposed Colton BNSF Intermodal Maintenance Facility that met the HSR LA-A project purpose and need. 

The Authority’s Program Delivery Committee (PDC) supports Staff conclusion that the Colton IMF is unreasonable at this time. 

The Authority is exploring additional alternatives for the project section that eliminate the need for the Colton Intermodal Facility. 

And preparing a Supplemental Alternatives Analysis (SAA) to document and evaluate potential alternatives to advance for study in the Draft EIR/EIS"  (Page 22, June 2023 Southern California Board Update LaDonna DiCamillo)


SEE ENTIRE JUNE 2023 BOARD UPDATE REPORT 

The following is a links to information provided by the California High-Speed Rail Authority:

Contact information for California High Speed Rail Authority Contacts
(877) 669-0494
los.angeles_anaheim@hsr.ca.gov

City of Colton and San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) Responses to NOP