Madera High-Speed Rail Station

The San Joaquin Joint Power Authority (SJJPA) is working with the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA), Madera County, MCTC and the City of Madera to relocate the Amtrak station in Madera County. A new station location off Avenue 12 is being implemented to support the potential for greater ridership and transit oriented development, improve connectivity and accessibility for transit and automobiles. The new station is being designed and environmentally cleared to enable future high-speed rail operations at this location. Funding for the Relocated Madera Station was included in a 2018 Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) grant award. The formal California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) environmental review process for the relocated station was certified at the January 22, 2021 SJJPA Board Meeting. While the CEQA process included clearance for the improvements needed for HSR Interim Service, CHSRA has requested that SJJPA take the lead in getting environmental clearance for the full-build Madera HSR station which will begin in 2023. CHSRA is expected to be the National Environmental Policy Act | (NEPA) lead for this process using its NEPA delegation from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

The existing station has limited use, no transit connections, poor access to SR-99, and its location is expected to see only marginal growth in employment and transportation demand. The relocated Madera station is at a location just north of the new Avenue 12 grade separation. Avenue 12 is a primary transit corridor for Madera County. The relocated station north of Avenue 12 will be consistent with the growth of Madera east of the BNSF railway line; provides the opportunity for Tranist Orientated Development (TOD) in the station vicinity; and will be closer to Madera Community College. Final design is underway and Phase 1 of the project will be operational (the relocated San Joaquins Amtrak station) by 2025. SJJPA assisted and supported Madera County and the City of Madera on a successful 2021 Caltrans Sustainable Transportation application to do transit-oriented development planning for the station area and for Southeast Madera County. This important planning work will begin in early 2023.

For more information about the Madera High-Speed Rail Station click here.