Madera Station Relocation Project

Project Overview

The Madera HSR Station Project is being implemented in three phases:

- Phase 1: Relocated Madera San Joaquins Station
- Phase 2: Madera HSR Station for Early Operating Segment (EOS)
- Phase 3: Full-Build Madera HSR Station

Phase 1 (Relocated Madera San Joaquins Station) -Final design is completed, the right-of-way needed has been secured, construction is expected to begin in 2025 for the Relocated San Joaquins Madera Station along Avenue 12.

Phase 2 (Madera HSR Station for Early Operating Segment (EOS) - Madera HSR implements the improvements needed for the Madera HSR Station to be served as part of HSR Early Operating Segment (EOS) between Merced and Bakersfield. Phase 2 is critical for Madera County since the SJJPA will be terminating the San Joaquins service at Merced once the HSR EOS is operating between Merced and Bakersfield. SJJPA is expected to be the Operating Agency for the HSR EOS.

Phase 3 (Madera HSR Station Full-Build Project) - Will support expanded HSR operations and service levels (beyond the EOS) associated with HSR Service (Bay Area to the north, Southern California to the south, or both) and subsequently Phase 1 HSR service (San Francisco to Los Angeles) at the proposed Madera HSR Station. This culminating phase will better connect HSR service and intercity railroad services to economic and educational centers in Madera County. A Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Phase 3 will be released to the public on Monday, April 14, 2025.

For project documents of each phase of the Madera HSR Station, please see the tabs below:

Madera Station Phase 1

Madera San Joaquins Station Relocation

Phase 1 of the Madera HSR Station project is the relocation of the Amtrak San Joaquins station in Madera, currently located just north of the City of Madera, adjacent to the Madera Acres neighborhood. The relocated station would be just north of Avenue 12, providing better regional access and future expansion opportunity for High-Speed Rail. The existing station would be closed once Phase 1 is completed, with San Joaquins service provided at the new station location. CEQA review for this relocation has been completed, with the documents available to review at the links below.

Phase 1 Documents

Benefits of Avenue 12 Location

Will enable future high-speed rail service to access the Madera Station
Avenue 12 is currently a primary transit route for Madera County
Has excellent access to State Route 99 with a recently updated interchange at Avenue 12
Continues to provide access to central Madera with similar travel times as the current station location.
Greatly improves access times for riders from the numerous neighborhoods in southern Madera County
Accommodates anticipated growth in southeast portion of Madera County and north Fresno.
Location near Madera Community College Center will allow easy access for staff, students, and visitors

Final Design Phase

With approval of the Final IS/MND by the SJJPA Board, Phase 1 of the Project began final design, which includes detailed engineering and design. This work was completed in the fall of 2024 and readied the project for construction, which is anticipated to begin in 2025.

What Has Been Completed to Date?

SJJPA staff prepared and presented a Connectivity Report to the SJJPA Board identifying substantial connectivity challenges at the existing Madera San Joaquins Station.
SJJPA worked with the Madera County Transportation Commission, the County and City of Madera, the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), and the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) to analyze issues associated with the existing station and to identify a new station location that meets the region’s goals of improving connectivity and ridership. SJJPA has continued to coordinate with CTC, County and City.
SJJPA obtained a Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program grant for the Madera Station Relocation Project.
SJJPA has conducted extensive coordination with CalSTA and CHSRA to ensure the station design can accommodate future high-speed rail service.
SJJPA released the Madera Station Relocation Report.
SJJPA released the Draft IS/MND for the Project on October 14, 2020.
SJJPA conducted public meetings about the Draft IS/MND on November 5, 2020.
SJJPA released the Final IS/MND on January 6, 2020.
The SJJPA Board approved the Project and Certified the Final IS/MND on January 22, 2021.
SJJPA initiated the Final Design on the Madera Station Relocation Project for Phase 1 in October 2021.
Webinar Presentation (from Webinars on November 5, 2020)
Webinar Presentation (from Webinar on May 14, 2020)
Webinar Presentation – Spanish (from Webinar on May 14, 2020)
Environmental
In April 2022, Caltrans awarded Madera County a $450,000 Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant. The grant will be used to develop a Transit Area Specific Plan for the area around the Relocated San Joaquins Madera Station and future High-Speed Rail (HSR) station. (Press Release)
Final Design was completed in the fall of 2024

Madera Station Phase 2

Madera High-Speed Rail Station, Early Operating Segment

Phase 2 will bring High-Speed Rail service to Madera and allow the initial 18 round trips envisioned for the Early Operating Segment.

On October 28, 2023, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) published the Draft 2024 Interregional Transportation Improvement Program (ITIP). In partnership with SJJPA staff, Caltrans included $80 million for Phase 2 as a “New Project” in the Draft 2024 ITIP. The California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved the Final ITIP in March of 2024. Caltrans also submitted a joint application with SJJPA in May 2024, for a 2025-26 MPDG Federal grant for Phase 2 which combined with the proposed ITIP funds fully fund the improvements needed for the Madera HSR Station to serve the HSR EOS. On October 21, 2024 Caltrans received the official letter from USDOT that the Caltrans/SJJPA application was successfully awarded the full $54.5 million requested to complete the funding for Phase 2. Once HSR service and the Phase 2 station are operating, the Amtrak San Joaquins service would then be truncated at Merced.

CEQA is completed with the Final IS/MND clearing Phase 2 as well as Phase 1 – see documents below for project description and more information. NEPA is expected to begin in spring of 2025 and final design will begin later in 2025.

Phase 2 Documents

Madera Station Phase 3

Madera High-Speed Rail Station, Full Build

Phase 3 will be the Full-Build of the High-Speed Rail station at Madera. This phase will expand on the Phase 2 project with the addition of western side platform and station siding track, an overhead pedestrian crossing, culvert and wildlife crossing extensions, parking expansion, and station facility improvements. This additional infrastructure is necessary for Madera HSR Station to accommodate expanded HSR operations and service levels (beyond the EOS) associated with HSR Service (Bay Area to the north, Southern California to the south, or both) and subsequently Phase 1 HSR service (San Francisco to Los Angeles) at the proposed Madera HSR Station.

An initial Notice of Preparation (NOP) was released on Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023. Written responses and comments on the scope of the Project were accepted through January 5, 2024. The full scoping report can be found here. You can view the slide deck here.

The Notice of Availability (NOA) has been released as of Monday, April 14, 2025. SJJPA will be accepting comments on the Draft EIR during the 45-day review period. The public review and comment period began on Monday, April 14, 2025, and will end on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. The Draft EIR chapters are now available for review here.

A physical copy of the Draft EIR is available for public at the following locations during their regular operating hours:

Madera County Library, 121 N. G Street, Madera, CA 93637
San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, 949 East Channel Street, Stockton, CA 95202
At the Open House Meeting (see sidebar for details).

Open House Meeting Information:

Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm (the presentation will take place from 5:50-6:10pm.)
Madera County Community College, Room TM -11 30277 Ave 12, Madera, CA 93638
A court reporter will be present to capture all formal comments made.
Spanish interpretation services will also be available.

Key Milestones and Timeline

Madera Station Timeline - English - March 2025

Environmental Clearance of the Project

SJJPA has completed environmental review for Phases 1 and 2 in accordance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to assess and inform the public about potential impacts of the Project, including mitigations where necessary. The Final Initial Study/Negative Mitigated Declaration (IS/MND) for the Phases 1 and 2 was approved by the SJJPA Board on January 22, 2021. To access the document, please see the link in the Phase 1 tab.

UPDATES

Release of Phase 3 Draft EIR and In-Person Open House Meeting

SJJPA released the Draft EIR on April 14, 2025. SJJPA will be holding an open house meeting to provide information about the Draft EIR and respond to general questions about the environmental analysis. There will be a presentation and informational boards summarizing the Project and the Draft EIR, and staff will be available to answer questions of a general nature.

Meeting Information:

Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
(the presentation will take place from 5:50-6:10pm.)
Madera County Community College, Room TM -11, 30277 Ave 12, Madera, CA 93638

A court reporter will be present to capture all formal comments made.
Spanish interpretation services will also be available.

Comment Period:

All formal comments on the Draft EIR must be submitted in writing via mail or email by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, or to a court reporter at the Open House Meeting for consideration.

There are three ways to provide comments on the document

Mail :

Dan Leavitt
Manager of Regional Initiatives
San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority
949 East Channel Street
Stockton, CA 95202

Email :

info@maderastation.com
Please include “Madera HSR Phase 3 Project” in the subject line.

In-Person:

Written and verbal comments will be accepted during the Open House Meeting (see Meeting information above).

Stay Connected

Join SJJPA on our social media platforms for the most up to date information.

Who is the Lead Agency?

SJJPA is the lead agency for this effort. To help ensure a successful process, the SJJPA is working closely with the Madera County Transportation Commission, Madera County, City of Madera, California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), and the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA).

For more information, sign up for the Project Stakeholder Database

Do you have a question about the project, want more information, or want to be added to our stakeholder database? Sign up below to receive information about project documents and updates.

SJJPA Contact for Questions Regarding Madera HSR Station:
Dan Leavitt, Manager of Regional Initiatives
San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority
dleavitt@sjrrc.com
(209) 944-6266

Madera Station Relocation Project

Madera High-Speed Rail Station