The City of Millbrae (City) and the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) today announced they have reached a settlement agreement in the City’s lawsuit regarding high-speed rail in Millbrae. 

“This is a momentous milestone for Millbrae. This historic settlement represents our commitment to realizing our true potential – where high quality public transit integrates with housing and economic development to energize the future of a thriving city. Millbrae is committed to working with anyone and everyone who respects us and comes to us an equal partner.” said Anders Fung, Mayor of Millbrae. This partnership will ensure the success of both Millbrae and CA High Speed Rail as we work toward realizing the most important intermodal station in the western United States.” 

“This agreement reflects our continued commitment to collaboration with local partners like the City of Millbrae,” said Ian Choudri, Chief Executive Officer of the California High-Speed Rail Authority. “It helps accelerate our path to bringing high-speed rail into the Bay Area—unlocking opportunity, mobility, and economic growth through fast, clean, and affordable transportation.”   

“Transit-oriented development to the east of the Millbrae BART station is one of the reasons for the City’s current economic vitality, and this agreement prioritizes transit-oriented development for the west side of the station sooner rather than later,” said Tom Williams, City Manager of Millbrae.

The settlement includes a framework for how the City and the Authority will work together moving forward. Among the items agreed upon are:

• The City and the Authority will collaborate on ultimate station access issues to ensure travel to and from Millbrae’s future high-speed rail station will be smooth and seamless for pedestrians, vehicles and all other modes of transit.
• The City will lead the land use and planning efforts on the west side of the station to guide future transit-oriented development (TOD), consistent with revisions to the Millbrae Station Area Specific Plan that will also allow for future high-speed rail.
• The Authority will lead the design of its proposed high-speed rail station addition to the existing intermodal Millbrae station.
• Both public partners will involve one another in their respective planning to ensure integrated TOD with a future high-speed rail station.
   

Centrally located on the San Francisco Peninsula in San Mateo County, Millbrae has approximately 23,000 people and is the Transportation Hub of the Bay Area. Connected through San Francisco International Airport, BART, SamTrans, and Caltrain providing easy and direct access to the region as well as foreign and domestic destinations. The entire Millbrae Station Area has several approved and constructed transit-orient developments that include retail, office, life sciences, hotel and market-rate and affordable residential housing.  These projects further complement the area and provide additional housing, shopping, dining, and entertainment options. The strong pedestrian scale connections and vibrant sidewalk activity areas will make these mixed-use high-density developments a great place for residents, workers, visitors, and commuters to live, work, shop, and play.