California High-Speed Rail Clears Environmental Review, Hires Designer for Railway

California’s High-Speed Rail has now passed all environmental reviews needed to finish the railway connecting the Los Angeles area and San Francisco, a feat officials called historic. “Today’s approval is more than a historic milestone—it closes the gap between Los Angeles and San Francisco,” said High-Speed Rail Authority Board Chair Tom Richards in a June 27 press release. The announcement comes after the rail authority approved the same day the final segment of the railway which connects Palmdale to Burbank. The 38-mile section will allow passengers to travel from the Antelope Valley to the San Fernando Valley in roughly 17 minutes, at speeds of up to 220 mph, according to the press release....