San Jose to Merced

The California High-Speed Rail Authority is releasing the staff recommendations for the State’s Preferred Alternatives for the high-speed rail routes in Northern California. The Authority has launched a comprehensive outreach campaign through the summer to gather feedback from the public on the staff recommendations for the Authority Board of Directors to consider in making their decisions in September. Major outreach events will include several community working group meetings in July, and six public open houses in August. Input received from the public regarding these routes will be presented to the Authority’s Board of Directors in September for consideration along with the staff recommendations.

In the San Jose to Merced project section, Authority staff recommends Alternative 4 as the State’s Preferred Alternative. Alternative 4 utilizes a blended configuration between San Jose and Gilroy in the existing Union Pacific Railroad corridor before continuing to a dedicated high-speed rail alignment through Pacheco Pass.

• News Release: California High-Speed Rail to Make Public Recommendations for the State’s Preferred Alternatives in Northern California
• Map of Alternative 4
• Frequently Asked Questions
• San Jose to Merced Preferred Alternative Fact Sheet

The Authority is committed to planning and building a premier high-speed rail system that will keep the traveling public and surrounding communities moving and safe. We are working to develop and deliver the program through effective engagements with local communities, a process that involves nourishing long-term relationships with residents, stakeholders and policymakers. The goal is to foster and encourage community engagement throughout the organization in all aspect of construction and operations.

In conducting outreach events, such as Open House and Community Working Group meetings, the Authority informs the public about all aspects of the program, including the presentation of specific project section plans and key milestones contributing to the first phase of the high-speed rail system.

In 2018, the Authority conducted and participated in over 300 meetings and presentations throughout Northern California, both large and small. The aim was to inform and gather input from city/county staff, neighborhood groups, Community Working Groups (CWG), Technical Working Groups (TWG), and environmental justice populations. In addition, the Authority collaborated with partner agencies throughout the region to further refine the system design and advance the environmental document.

In looking ahead to 2019 and beyond, the Authority will continue to work with community working groups, partner agencies, city and county staff, environmental justice groups and other community organizations to advance the environmental documents in Northern California.

For a listing of upcoming events and outreach opportunities in your area visit the Events page.

• San Jose to Merced

Northern California Regional Newsletter

Highlights

• Based on discussion with city and county staff along the two project sections, San Jose to Merced and San Francisco to San Jose, the Authority mapped projects related to active transportation, station access, and transit-oriented development as identified by stakeholders and working group members in 2016 and 2017. The Authority is working in conjunction with state funding partners to identify projects being planned by local communities and align them with potential grant funding opportunities from the State. They are organized to create “co-benefits,” which can increase the competitiveness of local grant applications.

Updates

• Plan for Expanded Blended Operation Between San Jose and Gilroy - The 2018 Business Plan proposes to expand electrification of the Caltrain corridor south of San Jose to Gilroy.  The Authority continues to be in discussions with Union Pacific Railroad and other partners about right of way and operational options, including how electrified passenger and diesel freight trains could share the corridor. This may potentially allow enhanced electrified service all the way to Gilroy, eliminating the need to use passenger diesel trains in the corridor and potentially allow the line to be used for express high-speed rail operations between San Francisco and Gilroy.
• Establishing a Range of Alternatives - The 2018 Business Plan introduces the concept of blended electrified service between San Jose and Gilroy. The Authority expanded the range of alternatives under study by incorporating the new at-grade alternative for high-speed rail in Northern California. Four alternatives are now under study for the San Jose and Merced section and two alternatives for the San Francisco and San Jose section.
• Wildlife Corridor Assessment - In collaboration with a variety of partners in the field, the Authority conducted wildlife corridor assessments in the Coyote Valley and Pacheco Pass in the San Jose to Merced project section. Sensitive wildlife movement corridors were identified and design refinements incorporated to increase wildlife permeability and minimize the rail corridor's impediment to animal movement.

The Authority is committed to keeping stakeholders and the public up-to-date on the latest on the high-speed rail program, and the latest updates happening in the regions.

To sign up for project section updates, visit the Contact Us page and select Northern California, Central Valley or Southern California.

Visit the Information Center to learn more about the San Jose to Merced project section in the regional and project section factsheets.

The State of California and the federal government both require a proposed infrastructure project to undergo an extensive assessment of the project's potential impacts on the environment - land, air, water, minerals, plants, animals and noise - and proposed actions to avoid or mitigate those impacts, if feasible.

Decisions regarding how and where to build the California high-speed rail system are made and justified by using detailed environmental studies and public comments on the potential environmental impacts of the proposed rail system and routes.

To deliver the Final Environmental Impact Report/Statement (EIR/S), below are upcoming key milestone dates for both San Francisco to San Jose and San Jose to Merced project sections (PA indicates the selection of a Preferred Alternative):

The following documents are available for review upon request. Please contact records@hsr.ca.gov.

• San Jose to Merced Project Section Supplemental Alternatives Analysis
• San Jose to Merced Project Section Alternative Analysis
• San Jose to Merced Project Section Scoping Report
• San Jose to Merced Project Section Notice of Intent/Notice of Preparation

If you are interested in inviting the Authority to your community meeting to receive a project update, the team would be happy to coordinate with you.

(800) 455-8166
san.jose_merced@hsr.ca.gov

Visit the Contact Us page to sign up for e-mail alerts and for additional contact information.