NEWS RELEASE: California High-Speed Rail Extends Public Review Period and Changes Public Hearing Format for the San Jose to Merced Project Section

May 22 2020 | San Jose

Today the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) announced the public review period for the San Jose to Merced Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) has been extended. The public review period previously scheduled to end on June 8, 2020 has been extended by 15 days to Tuesday, June 23, 2020. The Authority also announced that it will transition from an in-person public hearing on May 27, 2020 to a “virtual” public hearing format.

In response to agency and stakeholder requests in consideration of limitations caused by the outbreak of COVID-19, the Authority has elected to extend the public review period for the Draft EIR/EIS to provide additional time for review and comments.

The public hearing for the San Jose to Merced Project Section Draft EIR/EIS will be held via teleconference and online video conference, rather than in-person meeting. The virtual public hearing will include a webcast and moderated call-in number for the public to submit oral comments. The date and time of the public hearing remain the same. Interpretation will be available in Spanish, Mandarin, and Vietnamese. This is the only opportunity to provide oral comment on the Draft EIR/EIS.

San Jose to Merced Draft EIR/EIS Virtual Public Hearing
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

To view a live stream of the public hearing, please visit http://videossc.com/HSR/

The public can provide comments by joining the webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82252284338?pwd=TWZHSnBhMlRWdGhXYnVwV05ReUgwUT09 or by phone by dialing (669) 900-9128 and entering the webinar ID: 822 5228 4338.

The public can continue to submit comments on the San Jose to Merced Draft EIR/EIS the following ways:

• Via web comment form on the Authority’s website: www.hsr.ca.gov/programs/environmental/eis_eir/draft_san_jose_merced_comment.aspx
• Via email to San.Jose_Merced@hsr.ca.gov with the subject line “Draft EIR/EIS Comment”
• Via conventional mail at the address below:

Attn: San Jose to Merced: Draft EIR/EIS
California High-Speed Rail Authority
100 Paseo de San Antonio, Suite 300
San Jose, CA 95113

After the comment period closes on June 23, 2020 and the comments received have been evaluated, staff will prepare and issue the Final EIR/EIS document and present it to the Board to consider certification and project approval under the California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act.

The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being or have been carried out by the State of California pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated July 23, 2019, and executed by the Federal Railroad Administration and the State of California.

To view the contents of the Draft EIR/EIS, please visit: www.hsr.ca.gov/programs/environmental/eis_eir/draft_san_jose_merced.aspx

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