SHAM-WOW



The California High Speed Rail Authority has asked permission to test-drill deep beneath the Angeles National Forest to determine the feasibility of digging a rail tunnel through the rugged San Gabriel Mountains near Santa Clarita.

If allowed to perform its tests, the rail authority will drill down 900 feet to 2,500 feet below the surface in up to eight locations of the northwestern portion of the Angeles, a federally protected wilderness. Borings will only be allowed on existing forest roads, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

By examining the test borings, the rail authority can determine the soil, water content and locate earthquake faults - all important geological information needed to complete an Environmental Impact Report on the high-speed train's alignment from Palmdale to Burbank airport station.

"We want to look at the conditions for fault lines, ground water all the geology to determine if we could potentially build a tunnel for the high-speed rail line," said Lisa Marie Alley, deputy director of public affairs for the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

At first, the authority proposed a route roughly following the 14 Freeway corridor and tying into L.A. Metro tracks through San Fernando. Many residents from Acton, Santa Clarita and San Fernando objected, saying it would take properties and cut their cities in half. Later, the authority added three other possible routes that would require tunnels for the bullet train to be constructed beneath the Angeles forest, connecting Burbank and Palmdale.

The three East Corridor routes, E-1, E-2, and E-3 would mostly be built underground from the Burbank station, passing Pacoima and under the mountains. The first two would emerge onto the surface at Bootlegger Canyon Road briefly, then surfacing in Palmdale. E-3 would be almost entirely underground, surfacing north of Sierra Highway and then into Palmdale.

In what only can be described as an unusual process, the U.S. Forest Service is asking the public for their thoughts on whether to allow the rail authority to proceed with its tunnel study.

Until Oct. 23, the public can comment on the feasibility study but not on the selection of a rail route.

Comments can be sent to: Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, Attention George Farra, 701 N. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia, Calif., 91006. Email to: gfarra@fs.fed.us.