california high speed rail project community perspective
TRANSCRIPT
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California High Speed Rail Project
Community Perspective
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CARRD
Californians Advocating Responsible Rail Design– Grassroots volunteer organization– Process focus – Engage community and encourage participation– Watchdog for transparency– Do NOT advocate for a particular implementation or route
Founders– Nadia Naik, Elizabeth Alexis, Rita Wespi, Sara Armstrong– Palo Alto base, State wide focus
We are not transportation experts, we are not lawyers Contact info
– website: www.calhsr.com– email: [email protected]
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Agenda
Project Overview Regional & Local Focus Process Description Q&A
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California High Speed Rail Project
November 2008 - Prop 1A authorized State Bond Funds
– plan, construct and operate a High Speed Train system from San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim
Governance– High Speed Rail Authority
9 appointed Board members less than dozen state employees 4 tiered web of consultants / contractors do the bulk of the
work– Legislature – controls bond funds– Peer Review Committee
8 appointed & confirmed members
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HSR System
800 mile network Electric powered trains
via overhead contact wires
Maximum speed of 220 miles per hour
Fully grade-separated, dedicated track alignment
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Funding Plan
Backbone System Cost: $42.6 billion– Federal Grants $17 - $19 billion– State Bond Funds $9 billion (Prop 1A)– Local Contributions $4 - $5 billion– Private Investors $10 - $12 billion
Awarded $2.25 billion stimulus funds Plan calls for $3 Billion in Federal funding
every year for 6 yrs
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Bay Area to Central Valley
Program Level analyzed two routes
– East Bay via Altamont– Peninsula via Pacheco
Pacheco Route along Caltrain Corridor Selected
Litigation challenged the decision
EIR decertified and re-circulated
Deadline: April 26!
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San Francisco to San Jose
Caltrain Corridor Caltrain + HSRA =
Peninsula Rail Program Caltrain and Freight will
continue operations during construction
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Structural & Operational changes
Current Proposed
Commuter + Freight Commuter + Freight + HSR
Diesel engines Electric trains(freight trains remain diesel)
2 tracks; passing tracks; freight spurs
4 track system, freight spurs
47 grade level crossings Fully grade separated
12 trains/hr peak 20 HS trains/hr peak +
20 Caltrains/hr peak
79 mph max speed 125 mph max speed
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Palo Alto
Additional 2 tracks– Minimum 79 feet of ROW
Grade Separations– Alma, Churchill, Meadow, Charleston
Potential HSR Station– Station design options– Local requirements & contributions– Selection Process
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Palo Alto Right of Way*
Peer
s Pa
rk
Mea
dow
Cha
rles
ton
San
Ant
onio
Uni
vers
ity
Emba
rcad
ero
Alm
a
Cal
Ave
96 ft85 ft79 ft
*Approximate – not perfectly to scale. Not official diagram.
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Vertical Alignments
Type Design Avg Width
Above GradeBerm 85 ft
Viaduct 79 ft
At Grade Road over/under pass 96 ft
Below Grade
Open Trench 96 ft
Cut & cover (trench) 96 ft
Bored tunnel 96 ft
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Visualization
HSRA Concept Video of Churchill Crossing
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Berm Alignment
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Viaduct Alignment
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At Grade (Overpass/Underpass)
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Open Trench
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Closed Trench (Cut & Cover)
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Deep bored tunnel
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Palo Alto Alternatives Carried Forward
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Palo Alto Alternatives Eliminated
Berm/Retained fill eliminated– Where: throughout Palo Alto– Why: community objection
Open Trench, Closed Trench, Viaduct– Where: Alma– Why: El Palo Alto & San Fransisquito Creek,
Historic Train Station Underground Station & deep tunnel Caltrain
– Where: corridor wide– Why: cost constraints
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Mid Peninsula Station
One or none of– Redwood City, Palo Alto, Mountain View
Palo Alto has second highest Caltrain ridership (followed by Mountain View)
Station designs currently being studied Local requirements
– Parking, transit facilities– Funding support
City of Palo Alto has not taken a formal position
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Process
How we got here & how you can help
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Environmental Review Process
Mandated by California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)– Applicant studies impacts, mitigations, alternatives– Lead Agency certifies the studies– Responsible for enforcing CEQA: you!
HSRA Environmental Reports– 2005: Statewide Program EIR – 2008: Bay Area to Central Valley Program EIR. But
decertified & reopen now– Segmented into 9 Geographic Project level teams
San Francisco to San Jose Project EIR – now in “Alternatives Analysis” phase
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Re-circulated Program Level EIR
Revised Draft of Program Level EIR released March 11– www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov website– CHSRA requested comments focus only on revised material– CARRD encourages stakeholders to submit comments on the
*full* record to provide up-to-date information How to Comment - Anyone can comment!
– Subject: “Bay Area to Central Valley Revised Draft Program EIR Material Comments”
– Attn: Dan Levitt, California High Speed Rail Authority– 925 L Street, Suite 1425 Sacramento, CA 95814– [email protected]– fax to (916) 322-0827
Deadline: April 26, 2010
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San Francisco – San Jose Project EIR
2009 2011
Purpose and
Need for HST Project
SCOPING OUTREACH
PUBLICCOMMENT
Alternatives Analysis:
•Develop Alternatives and Design Options
•Assess the Environmental and ROW Constraints and Impacts
•Select Alternatives to be Included in the EIR/EIS
•Prepare Alternatives Analysis Report
Prepare SF to SJHST
Draft EIR/EIS
FormallyAdopt San Francisco
to San Jose HST
Final EIR/EIS
PUBLIC & AGENCY
OUTREACH
2010
Circulate Draft
EIR/EIS
Alternatives Analysis:
•Develop Alternatives and Design Options
•Assess the Environmental and ROW Constraints and Impacts
•Select Alternatives to be Included in the EIR/EIS
•Prepare Alternatives Analysis Report
Alternatives Analysis:
•Develop Alternatives and Design Options
•Assess Environmental & ROW Constraints and Impacts
•Select Alternatives to be Included in the EIR/EIS
•Prepare Alternatives Analysis Report
PUBLICCOMMENT
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Context Sensitive Solutions
Collaborative approach– Involves all stakeholders – Works by consensus – Balance transportation needs and community
values Proven Process Adopted by Peninsula Rail Program for SF-
SJ– First time it is being used on a Rail Project– “Toolkit” to collect community information
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Getting Involved
With HSRA– Officially via comments to the Environmental
Review process– As a CSS Stakeholder
With your community– PAN and other grassroots groups– City of Palo Alto
Palo Alto HSR Subcommittee meetings (1st & 3rd Thurs 8:30 am)
– Peninsula Cities Consortium www.peninsularail.com
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Why make a comment?
Only official way to communicate concerns Anyone can comment EIR is like a full disclosure document
– Goal is to gather the most accurate data to based the analysis
– Help identify what they need to mitigate – Do not assume HSRA knows your community – Do not assume the City of Palo Alto will comment for you
This is a once in a lifetime project and you can help make it better!
– If you write a comment – it MUST be considered and addressed.
– No comment means you forgo rights to any recourse in the future
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Three ways to send comments
Regular U.S. mail to:– California High-Speed Rail Authority c/o Dan Leavitt
925 L Street, Suite 1425Sacramento, CA 95814
Attn: Bay Area to Central Valley Revised Draft Program EIR Material Comments
Via email to: [email protected]– Copy to: [email protected]– Subject line “Bay Area to Central Valley Revised Draft
Program EIR Material Comments” Fax to: (916) 322-0827
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Comment basics
Include– Valid name & address– Reviewing agencies or organizations should include the
name of a contact person, who would be available for questions or consultation, along with their comments
– Title of EIR you are commenting on
Submit it before the deadline. – Send your comments in early, so they have time to
consider your concerns
Keep a copy of your comments – Send a copy to your city
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Tips on writing a good comment
Be Objective and Specific– Whenever possible, present facts or expert
opinions. – If not, provide personal experience or your
personal observations. Don't just complain Separate your concerns into clearly
identifiable paragraphs or headings. Don't mix topics.
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Areas of Study
Air Quality Noise / Vibration Traffic and Circulation Land Use, Development,
Planning, & Growth Biological Resources Wetlands / Waters of the
U.S. Flood Hazards,
Floodplains, and Water Quality
Visual Quality & Aesthetics Parks & Recreational
Facilities Historic / Archeological
Resources Hazards and Hazardous
Materials Community Impacts /
Environmental Justice Construction Impacts Cumulative Impacts
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Content
Cataloging community assets Identifying impacts & mitigations Suggesting alternatives Correcting any inaccuracies, omissions,
errors in the record
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Catalog community asset
Identify “sensitive” areas– Historic Resources– Natural Resources
Open space, trees, wildlife, wetlands/creeks
– Sensitive areas Schools, hospitals, places of worship, funeral homes Parklands
– Business Interests Describe community values
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Identify Impacts & Mitigations
Consider ways to avoid impacts or enforceable ways to reduce the severity of impacts
– Quantify your concerns whenever possible – Identify the specific impact in question;– Explain why you believe the impact would occur;– Explain why you believe the effect would be significant;– Explain what additional mitigation measure(s) or changes
in proposed mitigations you would recommend.– Explain why you would recommend any changes and
support your recommendations. Don’t let the fear of not having supporting data keep
you from commenting.
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Suggest Alternatives
Offer specific alternatives Describe how they meet the requirements of
the project Can be on specific alignments, operations,
financing, etc Suggest different analysis methodologies
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Help provide accurate record
Point out any inconsistencies in the document or the data
Point out outdated information or Errors in logic Focus on the sufficiency of the EIR in
identifying and analyzing the possible impacts of the project on the environment
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Example – Noise Pollution
Provide inventory of sensitive areas– assume most impactful alternative
900 feet on either side of tracks 1/4 mile radius from Stations
Be Specific– document location, population, hours, layout– reference standards (City, Federal, WHO, etc)– request specific analyses and mitigations– Identify any omissions, inaccuracies and errors in
the document
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CSS Toolkit
Available at Caltrain/Peninsula Rail Program Website
Seeks community feedback on all alignment options
Early participation is the best way to ensure your ideas and concerns are incorporated
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Remember
Don’t be overwhelmed You know your community – just write about
it The burden of proof is on the Authority – not
you! If you don’t offer ideas, we miss a chance for
“Best Practices”
Democracy is not a spectator sport!