City Council Study Session March 15, 2010 Monthly Update on High Speed Rail

Background Prop 1 A - November 2008 Early 2009 Peninsula Cities Consortium (PCC) and Council Ad Hoc Sub Committee formed Council designates funds for consulting activities Caltrain (Peninsula Rail) becomes project manager for SJ-SF segment Fall 2008 “Teach In” and Design Workshop

Council Subcommittee Reports Monthly reports from Council Subcommittee Council Subcommittee meetings recorded and broadcast live (3/18) Web updates on City homepage

High Speed Rail Alternatives Analysis (AA) Key Environmental and Engineering Study Analysis range of grade separation alternatives - below grade (trenching + tunneling) - at grade - above grade and elevated City retained engineering expertise for peer review Alternatives Analysis scheduled for April 8 release 45 day review – City requested additional 45 days (total of 90 days)

Right – of – Way Maps Accurate maps needed to determine if additional Right-of-way needs to be acquired City has made formal requests HSR has not to date provided and indicates map details be provided with Alternatives Analysis

Key Environmental Documents Program EIR Program EIR – Alignment from Central Valley to the Bay Area Menlo Park and Atherton files lawsuit challenging Program EIR – Palo Alto files supplemental friend of the court brief supporting the lawsuit Court finds in favor of Menlo Park and Atherton rejects Program EIR Program EIR required to be re-circulated. Review began March 11, 2010. City preparing comments – using technical experts Council review of draft comments April 12 close (comment period closes 4/26)

Key Environmental Document Project EIR Studies implementation of San Jose –San Francisco segment Alternatives Analysis feeds into Project EIR Draft Project EIR scheduled for review early 2011

Business Plan Concerns raised regarding adequacy of ridership assumptions 2009 Senate Housing and Transportation Subcommittee required revised Business Plan HSRA’s revisions shows lower ridership projections and higher costs Legislative Analysts Office highly critical of Business Plan and raises serious doubts regarding financing program

Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) What is it? Caltrain (Peninsula Rail) formally adopts CSS process CSS process not engaged CSS “Tool Kit” also delayed by High Speed Rail

Council Ad Hoc Subcommittee Necessary to convert to a Standing Committee Representation on Peninsula Cities Consortium Public meetings first and third Thursdays

Legislative Activities City retained Sacramento lobbyist Numerous bills introduced – primarily exemptions from environmental (CEQA) review Council strongly oppose any erosion of Environmental Review

Next Steps Program EIR – Comments due April 26, 2010 Project EIR underway- Alternatives Analysis expected April 8, 2010 April 7, 2010: HSR Program EIR Public Hearings 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. 55 West Younger St., San Jose, Sheriff’s Auditorium 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Santa Clara Board of Supervisors’ Chambers, 70 W. Hedding, San Jose April 7, 2010: HSR Executive/Committee 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Santa Clara County Bldg., 70 W. Hedding 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. HSR Operations Committee, County Bldg., 70 W. Hedding, San Jose April 8, 2010: HSR Board of Directors 9 a.m. Board of Supervisors’ Chambers, 70 W. Hedding, San Jose