California High-Speed Rail Station Designs Unveiled at Open House Sessions

The canopy at Fresno station draws in fresh air and shields waiting passengers from harsh sunlight.

Courtesy of Foster + Partners

SACRAMENTO – Foster + Partners and Arup revealed the designs for the California High-Speed Rail’s first four stations.

According to a press release, both Foster + Partners and Arup took part in public sessions within the communities to “inform the development of the station designs.” In a joint venture, both will oversee the architecture and engineering for four new Central Valley stations. These will “serve as models of design for others planned along the entire 500-mile Los Angeles/Anaheim to San Francisco system.”

These will not be the only public meetings as the next round will occur in winter 2024-2025. In addition, there will be opportunities for the public to learn more about the stations, see renderings and 3D station models, and talk with planning experts at the California State Fair in Sacramento from July 12^th to 28^th. 

Merced

The Merced station will utilize a pedestrian bridge that crosses over freight tracks. It will align with the existing city grid and connect downtown with the station concourse to improve pedestrian access across Merced. Additionally, a new flexible outdoor plaza on 16^th Street will provide the community with a public space and “activate the station.”

Fresno

Reconnecting downtown and Chinatown by way of an elevated pedestrian crossing that restores the city grid along Mariposa Street, the Fresno station will be available day and night. It will allow for a public connection between these two parts of the city and hopefully spark sustained economic growth in Chinatown. Additionally, there will be landscaped plazas on either side of the crossing and restoration of the historic depot.

Kings Tulare

The Kings Tulare station is not far from Hanford and will be designed to create a better experience for passengers who arrive by bus, car, or bicycle. Currently, crews are working to add elevated platforms and protective canopy to the Hanford viaduct. 

Bakersfield

This station will be the southern terminus of the initial segment and already has planned connections to Los Angeles and Anaheim. According to the release, the design includes a linear park that runs underneath a new viaduct that will connect downtown Bakersfield with the Kern River Corridor. Along this connection, there will be a “variety of shaded outdoor public spaces and recreation facilities.” In the future, there are reportedly plans to develop transit adjacent to the viaduct from the river corridor to Chester Avenue.

Foster + Partners Head of Studio, Stefan Behling, said, “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.”

David Summerfield, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners, added: “It is a great privilege to be making a contribution to this transformative project, which will reconnect communities across the state of California and have exceedingly high environmental benefits for the whole country.”

John Eddy, Project Manager, Arup, noted: “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.”

Meg Cederoth, Authority Director of Planning and Sustainability, said: “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.”