San Francisco to San José

The public review period for the San Francisco to San Jose Project Section Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) closed on September 9, 2020. The Draft EIR/EIS was originally made available for a minimum 45-day public review beginning on July 10, 2020 and ending on August 24, 2020, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In response to agency and stakeholder requests and in consideration of limitations caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Authority elected to extend the public review period to September 9, 2020. The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) will consider all comments received on the Draft EIR/EIS and respond to substantive comments on the Draft EIR/EIS in the Final EIR/EIS, scheduled for release in 2021.

To access the Draft EIR/EIS or learn more about its purpose, please navigate to the following link: https://hsr.ca.gov/programs/environmental/eis_eir/draft_san_francisco_san_jose.aspx

Please visit the Events Page for more information about the Authority’s upcoming engagement activities.

High-speed rail service along the San Francisco to San José corridor will be a blended system which will support modernized Caltrain service and high-speed rail service primarily on shared track largely within the existing Caltrain corridor. This approach minimizes impacts on surrounding communities, reduces project cost, improves safety and expedites implementation.

The Authority is continuing the planning and environmental process to further define the blended system. System improvements that will be defined during the planning and environmental review process include passing tracks, that can be used by high-speed rail to pass Caltrain trains that need to stop more frequently, system upgrades to support higher train performance and speed, system safety improvements, including grade crossings, and stations.

Blended System Background

The blended system concept has been envisioned for many years.

In 2004, the Authority and Caltrain entered into an agreement to work cooperatively to plan a shared corridor between San Francisco and San José.

After voters approved Proposition 1A, the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century, the agencies entered into another agreement (2009 agreement, 2009 amendment) to work in partnership to identify design alternatives that would support both high-speed rail and modernized Caltrain service. These original plans called for a fully-grade separated four-track system between San Francisco and San José.

Much has changed since then and after listening to concerns from policymakers and communities on the Peninsula, high-speed rail is now being planned as part of a blended system allowing Caltrain and high-speed rail trains to primarily share Caltrain's existing tracks on a system that remains substantially within the existing Caltrain corridor.

The Authority's 2012 Business Plan called for blended service along the corridor saying:

"The proposed blended system for the San Francisco Peninsula is primarily a two-track system that will be shared by Caltrain, high-speed rail service, and current rail tenants. Initial investigations show that blended operations as currently envisioned for the corridor are cost-effective solutions on both a capital and operating basis."

In 2012, Caltrain released several studies concluding that blended high-speed rail and Caltrain operations are feasible with some changes and upgrades to the existing system.

The same year, the Legislature passed Senate Bill SB 1029, defining the blended system saying:

"Any funds appropriated...for projects in the San Francisco to San José corridor, consistent with the blended system strategy identified in the April 2012 California High-Speed Rail Program Revised 2012 Business Plan, shall not be used to expand the blended system to a four-track system."

In 2012, with local, regional and state agreement on the blended system/service concept, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Authority, Caltrain and six other San Francisco Bay Area funding partners established a regional funding memorandum of understanding (MOU) to support the blended system which stated:

"A blended system will remain substantially within the existing Caltrain right-of-way and will accommodate future high-speed rail and modernized Caltrain service along the Peninsula corridor by primarily utilizing the existing track configuration on the Peninsula."

"This MOU is specific to project investments that upgrade existing rail services and prepare for a future high-speed train project that is limited to infrastructure necessary to support a blended system, which will primarily be a two-track system shared by both Caltrain and high-speed rail..."

In 2013, the Authority and Caltrain signed a new agreement in 2013, replacing the agreements signed in 2004 and 2009. The 2013 agreement commits the two agencies' to advancing a Blended System for the peninsula corridor and outlines the general path for advancing the Caltrain Modernization Program and the blended system.

In 2016, the Authority signed a funding agreement and supplement to the 2012 Nine-Party MOU that outlines the Authority's commitment to provide Caltrain with an additional $113 million to support the Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project (PCEP), bringing the Authority's total contribution to $600 million. Seven of the original nine parties to the 2012 Nine-Party MOU, including the Authority, identified additional funding to reach the estimated cost of the PCEP, identified as $1.972 billion by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (PCJPB) in 2016.

Get the latest information on the Caltrain Modernization Program.

The Local Policy Maker Group (LPMG) is comprised of officials from cities and counties along the Caltrain corridor. The group meets monthly to provide feedback and receive updates on the Caltrain Business Plan, Caltrain Electrification Project, and California high-speed rail project updates.

The LPMG group meets every month on the fourth Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the Edward J. Bacciocco Auditorium located on the second floor at SamTrans Administrative Offices, 1250 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos. The office is located two blocks west of the San Carlos Caltrain Station. In compliance with COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders, meetings may occur as online and/or teleconference meetings.

For more information on upcoming meetings, including meeting agenda, materials, and updated LPMG member list, visit: www.caltrain.com/projectsplans/CaltrainModernization/Local_Policy_Maker_Group.html

The California High-Speed Rail system has three planned train maintenance facilities that would support high-speed rail operations. In Northern California, a Light Maintenance Facility (LMF) is planned in the City of Brisbane; the LMF would serve as a location where trains are cleaned, serviced, and stored and as a service point for any trains in need of emergency repair services. The facility will be designed, constructed, and operated with LEED® Gold Certification – it will be energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive.

The Authority evaluated several potential LMF sites in Northern California and identified two options in Brisbane to further analyze in the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIR/EIS). In 2019, the Authority Board of Directors identified the East Brisbane LMF (Alternative A) as the preferred location, considering preliminary environmental analysis and input received from the public. Both options are studied in full in the Draft EIR/EIS, which was released for public review in July 2020.

For more information, please see our LMF Factsheet and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Additional questions can be provided by email at san.francisco_san.jose@hsr.ca.gov or by phone at (800) 435-8670.

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 specific project section plans and key milestones of the first phase of the high-speed rail system.

Each year, the Authority conducts and participates in hundreds of meetings and presentations throughout Northern California, both large and small. The aim is to inform and gather input from city/county staff, neighborhood groups, Community Working Groups (CWG), Technical Working Groups (TWG), environmental justice groups, and other community organizations. In addition, the Authority collaborates with partner agencies throughout the region to further refine the system design and advance the program.

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

Visit the address lookup and interactive online map to find your property in relation to either of the two project alternatives: https://maphsrnorcal.org/sanfrancisco-sanjose/.

• San Francisco to San José Project Section Map

Northern California Regional Newsletter

Highlights

• Preferred Alternative Identified – In September 2019, the Authority Board of Directors identified Preferred Alternatives for the high-speed rail routes in Northern California. In the San Francisco to San José project section, the Preferred Alternative is Alternative A, which includes a Light Maintenance Facility on the east side of the tracks in Brisbane and does not include additional passing tracks in the middle of the corridor. Staff first released its recommendations in July 2019 and launched a comprehensive outreach campaign through the summer to gather feedback from the public stakeholders for the Authority Board of Directors to consider in making their decision. For additional information, view the Board Memo, Staff Report, and Outreach Report summarizing results of the preliminary environmental analysis and input received from the public.


• Diridon Integrated Station Concept Plan (DISC) – DISC is a collaborative interagency effort between the Authority, VTA, Caltrain, and the City of San José to develop a vision for the San José Diridon Station as an expanded intermodal hub. In February 2020, after more than a year of study, the DISC partner agencies laid out three key components of the concept plan: an elevated station, two concourses, and north and south approaches maximizing use of the existing rail corridor. The partner agencies are now working together to identify a governance and implementation plan that will define both the environmental clearance and delivery strategy for the future station. Visit the DISC website for additional information.


• Caltrain Electrification – May 2020 was a landmark month for the Caltrain electrification project with Caltrain beginning testing of its electric trains. Construction of the Overhead Contact System that will power the new electric trains is continuing to advance along the corridor from 4th & King Station in San Francisco to Tamien Station in San José. Visit the CalMod website for additional information.


• Salesforce Transit Center – The San Francisco Transbay Terminal opened in August 2018 and will ultimately serve as the final northern terminus of the statewide high-speed rail system.


• San Francisco Downtown Rail Extension (DTX) – DTX will extend Caltrain service from its current terminus at 4th & King Station and deliver future high-speed rail service to the Salesforce Transit Center. In April 2020, the Authority partnered with the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, San Francisco County Transportation Authority, Caltrain, and the City & County of San Francisco to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding outlining a multi-agency partnership to more effectively develop DTX as a critical link in the state transportation system. For more information, visit: tjpa.org/project/downtown-rail-extension

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 your region.

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 Francisco to San José 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/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS), below are upcoming key milestone dates for both San Francisco to San José and San José to Merced project sections including upcoming outreach activities:

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

• San Francisco to San José Project Section Scoping - 2016
• San Francisco to San José Project Section Supplemental Alternatives Analysis
• San Francisco to San José Project Section Alternative Analysis
• San Francisco to San José Project Section Scoping
• San Francisco to San José 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) 435-8670
san.francisco_san.jose@hsr.ca.gov

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