California HSR Authority, Millbrae settle station planning spat

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and the city of Millbrae have reached a settlement that allows the city to develop land west of an expanded Millbrae Station without hindering access to it.

Millbrae sued the CHSRA in 2022, arguing that building housing on the property would be more beneficial than a parking lot or relocated tracks, according to a local news report. The settlement includes a framework for how the city and the CHSRA will work together, CHSRA officials said in a press release. 

The city will lead the land use and planning for transit-oriented-development on the station's west side that does not interfere with the authority's future addition of high-speed rail access to the Millbrae station. Both the authority and the city will involve each other in their planning.

“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 Millbrae City Manager Tom Williams in the CHSRA press release.