05 Staff Report - High Speed Rail System
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: 5/3/04 ITEMNOoS DATE: MAY 3, 2004 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DEBRA J. FIGONE, TOWN MANAGER ADOPTA RESOLUTION SUPPORTING
THE CALIFORNIA IDGH-SPEED AUTHORITY'S CONCLUSION TO USE .ONE OF THE TWO SOUTHERN ALIGNMENTS INTO THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA FOR THE STATE'S PROPOSED IDGH-SPEED RAIL SYSTEM RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a.resolution (Attachment No.1) supporting the California High-Speed Rail Authority's conclusion to use one ofthe two southern alignments into the San Francisco BayArea for the
State's . proposed High-Speed Rail System. . BACKGROUND: Established in 1996, the California High-Speed Rail Authority is charged with planning, designing, constructing, and operating
ofa state-of-the-art high-speedtrain system. Theproposed system would provide intercity travel in California between the major metropolitan centers ofthe San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento
in the north, through the Central Valley, to Los Angeles and San Diego in the south. The The proposed high-speed train system is projected to carry as many as 68 million passengers annual
by the year 2020. In June 2000, the Authority adopted a Final Business Plan for an economically viable high-speed train system capable ofspeeds in excess of200 miles per hours on a mostly
dedicated, fully gradesparated track with state-of-the-art safety, signaling and automated train control systems. N:IMGR\JHaruyamalStaffReportslhigbspeedraiJalignment.wpd PREPARED �
� UYAMA, ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST To comply with the California Environmental QualityAct (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Art (NEPA), the California High-Speed Rail Authority
in cooperation with the Federal Railroad Admini . n undertook an environmental study inMay2001to assess the proposed high-Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager ----DkTown Attorney __Clerk
Finance __Community Development Revised: 4/23/04 12:36 pm Reformatted: 7/14/99
PAGE 2 TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE CALIFORNIA HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY'S CONCLUSION TO USE ONE OF THE TWO SOUTHERN ALIGNMENTS INTO THE SAN
FRANCISCO BAY AREA FOR THE STATE'S PROPOSED HIGH-SPEED RAIL SYSTEM May 3, 2004 speed train system for intercity travel in California. Preparation ofthe environmental study involved more
than thirty (30) months ofidentification, planning, review, and evaluation oftravel alternatives and seventeen (17) public scoping meetings, plus several briefmgs and presentations to
large and small resident/community/business groups. On January 27,2004, a draft environmental report and impact statement was released for public review. Based on the analysis, the Authority
and Federal Railroad Administration identified the high-speed train system as the preferred system alternative to meet California's future intercity travel demands and recommended alignment
options for the northern (San Francisco Bay Area) and southern (Central Valley, Los Angeles, and San Diego Areas) mountain crossings. DISCUSSION: Upon completion of its environmental
analysis, the California High-Speed Rail Authority recommended two alignment options for the proposed high-speed rail system as it relates to the northern mountain crossing (San Francisco
Bay Area). The alignment options include a route through the Pacheco Pass or a series oftunnels through the Diablo Range to bring high-speed rail into the BayArea through San Jose. The
line would then split, with one set oftracks paralleling the Caltrain Corridor up the Peninsula to San Francisco and the other set running up the East Bay to Oakland. The Authority concluded
that entering the Bay Area from the south would offer faster travel times, more frequent service to San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland, higher ridership, and more revenue. The Authority
also considered and rejected one other Bay Area alignment, known as the Altamont Pass due to complex operational and environmental challenges. Following this route, the highspeed highspeed
rail trains would enter the BayArea over the Altamont Pass to Union City. From Union City, the trains would then split into three lines--one south to 'San Jose, another north to Oakland
and a third to San Francisco over a new bridge across the bay. Splitting the service into three, rather than two lines, would reduce train frequencies and ridership, while substantially
increasing operating costs; In addition, the costs of building a new rail bridge across the bay and the environmental hurdles that would need to be overcome make the Altamont Pass alignment
impractical. However, proponents ofthis alternative are pressuring the Authority to reconsider this alignment option. The Authority will be holding a series ofpublic hearings onresults
ofthe environment impact report throughout the State and will address the proposed alignment options. For the Bay Area region, a public hearing has been scheduled for May 26, 2004 at
the Isaac Newton Center Auditorium in the Santa Clara County Building. The hearing hearing will open at 3 p.m., with an informational open house, followed by public comments beginning
at 4 p.m. .
PAGE 3 TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE CALIFORMA HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY'S CONCLUSION TO USE ONE OF THE TWO SOUTHERN ALIGNMENTS INTO THE SAN FRANCISCO
BAY AREA FOR THESTATE'S PROPOSED HIGH-SPEED RAIL SYSTEM May 3, 2004 Agencies supporting the Pacheco Pass/Diablo Range alignment options include, but are not limited to the Santa Clara
County Cities Association (SCCCA), Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group (SVMG), Santa Clara County Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), City ofSan Jose, and the San Jose Chamber of Commerce.
The SCCCA has officially taken a position of support regarding the Authority's two recommended alignment options for the Bay Area and is requesting that member cities, including the
Town of Los Gatos, adopt resolutions supporting the proposed alignment alternatives. Member cities have also been encouraged to attend the upcoming public hearing. A resolution supporting
the recommended alignments has been attached for Council CONCLUSION: On January 27,2004, the California High-Speed Rail Authority in cooperation with the
Federal. Railroad Administrationreleased for public review, an environmental impactreport, assessing travel alternatives to meet California's intercity travel needs. Based on the analysis,
the Authority and Federal Railroad Administration identified the high-speed train system as the preferred system alternative and alignment alternatives for the northern· and southern
mountain crossings..", The proposed alignment locations for the Bay Area include a route through the Pacheco Pass or a series oftunnels through the Diablo Range. The SCCCAhas requested
that the Town ofLos Gatos adopt a resolution supporting the use ofone ofthe two proposed alignments for the State's proposed highspeed rail system as it relates to the San Francisco
Bay Area. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated withthe adoption ofa resolution supporting the California HighSpeed Rail Authority's conclusion to use one ofthe two southern
southern alignments into the San Francisco Bay Area for the State's proposed high-speed rail system. Attachments: Attachment No.1: Resolution Supporting the California High-Speed Rail
Authority's Conclusion to Use One of the Two Southern Alignments into the San Francisco Bay Area for the State's Proposed High-Speed Rail System
---------- ------------------ RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS SUPPORTING THE CALIFORNIA IDGHSPEED RAIL AUTHORITY'S
CONCLUSION TO USE ONE OF THE TWO SOUTHERN ALIGNMENTS INTO THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA FOR THE STATE'S PROPOSED IDGHSPEED RAIL SYSTEM WHEREAS, the California High-Speed Rail Authority,
the organization responsible for planning, designing, constructing, and operating the state's high-speed rail system, plans to run the first leg between Los Angeles and San Francisco
through San Jose. Ultimately, the line would be extended to Oakland, Sacramento and San Diego; and WHEREAS, the California High-Speed Rail Authority is recommending two alignment options-through
the Pacheco Pass or a series oftunnels through the Diablo Range--to bring high-speed rail into the San Francisco Bay Area through San Jose. The line would then split"with one set oftracks
paralleling the Caltrain Commuter Rail Corridor up the Peninsula to San Francisco and the the other set running up the East Bay to Oakland; and WHEREAS, the California High-Speed Rail
Authority concluded that entering the Bay Area from the south would offer faster travel times, more frequent servicetoSan Jose, San Franciscoand Oakland, higher ridership, and more revenue;
and WHEREAS, the California High-Speed Rail Authority considered and rejected one other Bay Area alignment, known as the Altamont Pass alignment due to financial, operational, and environmental
reasons; and WHEREAS, the CalifoJ;IliaHigh-Speed Rail Authority released its program-level environmental document in late January 2004 and is now in the process of holding a series ofpublic
hearings on it throughout the state; and WHEREAS, a southern alignment into the Bay Area, by utilizing the entire Caltrain Commuter Rail Service Corridor, will help Caltrain achieve
several of its long-term goals, such as electrification, gradeseparating the corridor, and increasing the speed and frequency ofthe service. NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED,that the TownofLos
Gatos supports the California High-Speed Rail Authority's conclusion to use one of the two southern alignments (pacheco Pass or Diablo Range) into the San Francisco Bay Area for the
state's proposed high-speed rail system. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town ofLos Gatos will communicate this position to the California High-Speed Rail Authority in writing as part
ofthe public record for the Authority's programlevel environmental document. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regularmeeting ofthe TownCouncil ofthe TownofLos Gatos, California, held on the 3rd
day ofMay, 2004 by the following vote: COUNCIL MEMBERS: AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: SIGNED: MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA ATTEST: CLERK OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA N :\MGR\JHaruyama\StaffReports\highspeedreso.wpd