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

2. 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

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

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

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

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

12. 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