High Speed Rail

The highly ambitious and highly visible California High Speed Rail has been officially funded since 2008 with the long-awaited Construction Package 1 (CP1) beginning in 2015. This $60+ billion dollar project has been the subject of intense scrutiny both from the public and an array of agencies alike. Needless to say, any lapses in pre-construction protocol could result in enormously costly delays and potentially harmful press.

Chambers Group has been delivering the environmental documentation and permitting for the 32-mile stretch between Avenue 19 in Madera County to East American Avenue in Fresno County since 2013. This area includes 12 grade separations, 2 viaducts, 1 tunnel and a major river crossing over the San Joaquin River. Working with the numerous agencies, construction providers and engineers, Chambers Group has analyzed all relevant environmental documents and project actions for compliance with CEQA, NEPA and Section 106 of NHPA standards as well as adherence to the guidelines prescribed in the Programmatic Agreement. Documents reviewed by Chambers Group include Archaeological Survey Reports, Historic Architecture Survey Reports, Conditions Assessment Reports, Historic American Engineering Records and Monthly Compliance Reports as well as both Archaeological and Built Environment Treatment Plans. Given the scale of the CP 1 package, coordination with the signatories such as the State Historic Preservation Office, the Federal Rail Authority and local governments are implemented.