Foster + Partners and Arup revealed designs for California High-Speed Rail’s four stations at the Open House session, which was held with stakeholders, local communities, and businesses. The high-speed railway project will allow passengers to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco in under three hours and take approximately half a million cars off the road annually.
The first four California High-Speed Rail stations are Merced, Fresno, Kings Tulare, and Bakersfield.
The historical link between Merced and Yosemite Valley will be strengthened with high-speed rail connections and a new station incorporating a pedestrian bridge and outdoor plaza.
The Fresno station will reconnect downtown and Chinatown via an elevated pedestrian crossing that restores the city grid along Mariposa Street. The crossing will create a public connection between these two parts of the city and catalyze future economic growth and investment in Chinatown.
The Bakersfield station will be the southern terminus of California High-Speed Rail’s Central Valley initial segment. The design includes a linear park underneath a new viaduct, connecting downtown Bakersfield and the Kern River Corridor with shaded outdoor public spaces and recreation facilities. And also, the Kings Tulare station will feature elevated platforms and a protective canopy, with services and amenities located directly below.
“We are honored to be part of this once-in-a-generation project that will connect California’s urban fabric with the agricultural heartland, transform local communities, and completely revolutionize the way people travel across the state. We are developing an architectural language for the four Central Valley stations, including soaring canopies that draw in fresh air and shield waiting passengers from harsh sunlight. The station design reflects the sustainable ethos of the wider project.” said Stefan Behling, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners.
“The excitement high-speed rail is generating in the four Central Valley cities is tremendous. Residents expressed their pride in being the first to receive high-speed rail service and their appreciation for the economic uplift provided by the current construction and the promise of more economic growth when the system is in operation. We look forward to future engagements with these welcoming cities to confirm we are capturing each of their identities while setting the standard for the entirety of California‘s high-speed rail stations.” stated John Eddy, Project Manager, Arup.
“In the Central Valley, we are engaging with the communities to identify station-site activities that will spur economic growth and a sense of community. We’re receiving important feedback from city leaders, transit agencies, regional transportation authorities, business organizations, community and public organizations, academic institutions, and non-profits throughout the Valley as we work together to advance these stations,” said Meg Cederoth, Authority Director of Planning and Sustainability.
