HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3357
City of Palo Alto (ID # 3357)
City Council Rail Committee Staff Report
Report Type: Meeting Date: 12/6/2012
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Rail Guiding Principles Update
Title: Proposed Updates to the Palo Alto City Council Rail Committee Guiding
Principles
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Planning and Community Environment
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Rail Committee recommend approval by the City Council of
the draft revisions to the Rail Committee Guiding Principles following Rail Committee
review and input.
Executive Summary
At the October 11, 2012 Rail Committee meeting, the Rail Committee directed staff to
propose further updates to the Rail Committee Guiding Principles to reflect changes that
have occurred relative to both California high-speed rail (HSR) and Caltrain since the
City Council last revised the Rail Committee Guiding Principles in December 2011.
Therefore, attached for Rail Committee review, are three documents:
1. The most recently adopted version of the Rail Committee Guiding Principles
approved by the City Council on December 19, 2011 (Attachment A)
2. A redlined version of the most recently adopted version of the Rail Committee
Guiding Principles reflecting proposed revisions; however, the introduction is not
redlined as it was completely rewritten (Attachment B)
3. A clean version of the Rail Committee Guiding Principles reflecting proposed
revisions (Attachment C)
Attachments:
Attachment A: Rail Committee Guiding Principles, December 19, 2011 (PDF)
City of Palo Alto Page 2
Attachment B: REDLINED DRAFT - Rail Committee Guiding Principles, December 6, 2012
(PDF)
Attachment C: CLEAN DRAFT - Rail Committee Guiding Principles, December 6, 2012
(PDF)
1
PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL RAIL COMMITTEE
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Role and Authority of the Rail Committee
The Committee shall advise the City Council on high speed rail (HSR), Caltrain and related rail
transit matters and provide the community with appropriate forums for the discussion of such
issues.
The Committee shall keep the full Council informed on a regular basis.
The Committee shall have the authority to act on behalf of the City on HSR, Caltrain and related
rail transit matters when there is not sufficient time to refer a particular issue to the full City
Council before action is needed. However, the Committee shall forward their recommendations
to the Council for final action if the Committee determines that it is feasible to do within the
time available. Such actions by the Committee shall include, but not be limited to, advocacy to
the state legislature, the HSR Authority, Caltrain Joint Powers Board, Congress and other
pertinent governmental agencies. Such actions by the Committee shall be consistent with the
following policies of the City:
Background
In November 2008 California voters approved Prop 1A, a nearly ten billion dollar bond measure,
the primary purpose of which is to develop HSR service from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The
High Speed Rail Authority (the Authority) has decided that the route HSR will take from San Jose
to San Francisco is along the Caltrain right of way (ROW), including the portion of the ROW that
runs through Palo Alto. However, the Environmental Impact Report used by the Authority in
making this decision has been de‐certified per court order. Many issues, such as the vertical
alignment of the HSR, remain undecided. Recognizing that HSR could have significant impacts
on Palo Alto, the City Council on May 18, 2009 created an ad hoc High Speed Rail Subcommittee
of four Council Members, (since changed to a standing committee and renamed the Rail
Committee). The Council also adopted a set of Guiding Principles which allowed the Committee
to take a variety of actions in the name of the City without action of the full Council.
Subsequently, the Committee‐‐‐ indeed the entire community‐‐‐ has learned a great deal about
HSR and many HSR related actions have taken place.
The Authority has selected the central valley as their first construction segment which allows
for more a more deliberative and collaborative consideration of alternatives on the peninsula.
Additionally, an alternative for a limited “blended” rail system along the Caltrain corridor has
2
been proposed along with a corresponding limited EIR. This proposal limits the scale of rail on
the peninsula. The Authority in November 2011 issued its revised Business Plan showing that
the cost of HSR would be $98 billion dollars. In the revised Business Plan the Authority used the
same ridership forecast model as it had in the past and did not address numerous flaws
identified by many experts who found the Authority’s projections to be unfounded and
unreliable.
Guiding Principles
The City Council therefore, adopts the following Principles to guide its decision making
framework and the actions of the Committee:
The City of Palo Alto believes that the High Speed Rail (HSR) Project should be terminated for
the following reasons:
1. The current project fundamentally contradicts the measure presented to the voters under
Prop. 1A in 2008.
2. The Business Plan is fatally flawed and not credible.
In November 2008, the voters passed a bond measure for a HSR project based on:
• Grossly understated construction costs,
• Understated fares and overstated ridership,
• Operating without a government subsidy, and
• A Funding Plan legally required to identify funding sources and achieve environmental
review prior to construction of an Initial Operating Segment (IOS).
Since the revised HSR Business and Funding Plans do not meet the projected ridership, fare, job
creation, and other significant requirements, the City believes that the voters were not given
accurate information during the 2008 election to make an informed decision on a HSR project
for the State of California.
If the State should move forward with the HSR project, the following Guiding Principles shall
apply to the City’s positions on HSR:
1. The City is opposed to an elevated alignment of HSR/Caltrain in Palo Alto.
2. The City’s preferred vertical alignment of fixed rail in Palo Alto is below grade.
3. All neighborhoods in Palo Alto affected by HSR/Caltrain should be treated with equal
consideration with respect to vertical alignment impacts.
3
4. The City believes that the pending program EIR for the Central Valley to San Francisco
portion of HSR is fatally flawed and that the HSR Authority should reopen and
reconsider its decision to use the Pacheco Pass route.
5. The City supports the findings of the Legislative Analyst’s Office, State Auditor and the
HSR Peer Review Committee which question the viability and accuracy of the Authority’s
Business Plan on such matters as the ridership projections, identification of sufficient
and reliable funding sources, project management, and operations of HSR.
6. The City favors legislation which would enable effective implementation of the HSR Peer
Review Committee authorized by AB 3034.
7. Palo Alto supports transit and urban design solutions that will be compatible with our
economic development strategies, transportation goals, and vision of the transit
corridor within our boundaries; HSR/Caltrain needs to complement the goals and
strategies of our Comprehensive Plan.
8. Palo Alto supports the use of the Context Sensitive Solutions related to HSR and Caltrain
that is effectively funded and implemented by the Authority.
9. The High Speed Rail Authority should provide sufficient funding to affected Cities to
allow them to hire experts to study reports requiring feedback and sufficient outreach
to the community to capture their concerns and suggestions.
10. Proposed changes to the Caltrain corridor by either the Authority or Caltrain should
provide realistic renderings of the various alternatives and also provide simulations that
would help to provide an understanding of the sound and vibrations.
11. Palo Alto strongly supports Caltrain and the commuter rail service at the present or
improved levels of service.
12. Palo Alto also supports the modernization of Caltrain, and/or as the lead agent for a
phased alignment with but independent of HSR.
13. Palo Alto will work cooperatively with neighboring communities with respect to HSR and
Caltrain issues of mutual concern through vehicles such as the Peninsula Cities
Consortium.
14. Palo Alto expects all current rail crossings to remain active. In the event that the
modernization of Caltrain and/or HSR increases train service from current 2011 levels,
Palo Alto will consider grade separation solutions for the Alma, Churchill, East Meadow,
4
and East Charleston crossings that are effectively funded and implemented by the lead
agency
15. The Guiding Principles of the Committee incorporates by reference Council adopted
written comments to the Authority, the Caltrain Joint Powers Board, and other relevant
agencies. In case of any conflict in policies the most recent language prevails.
Updated: December 19, 2011 (previously updated October 12, 2011 and May 17, 2010)
Background
In November 2008 California voters approved Proposition 1A, a $9.95 B bond measure, for High
Speed Rail (HSR) service from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The San Jose to San Francisco
segment of the selected route will take HSR rail service through Palo Alto. This segment is now
proposed to be a “blended system”, primarily relying on existing Caltrain right‐of‐way and
track. In anticipation of HSR, Caltrain is proposing to modernize this segment, including
electrification of the trains. However, the costs and environmental impacts of this “blended
system” continue to evolve, and have not yet been fully defined, studied or mitigated.
The most recent HSR business plan sets the initial cost of the overall HSR system at
approximately $68 B. While this cost reflects a reduction compared to recent cost estimates, it
still significantly exceeds the $33 B cost estimate advertised in Proposition 1A. In this revised
business plan, the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) also continues to use the
debatable and highly optimistic ridership forecast models, and does not address numerous
inconsistencies that had been noted by experts in previous business plans. This analysis,
therefore, creates an unreliable framework for accurate fiscal and environmental review of the
HSR system.
Moving forward, the initial construction segment (ICS) for HSR will be in the Central Valley. In
July 2012, legislation was enacted that allocated approximately $8 B of state and federal money
for construction of the ICS, and for investments in Northern and Southern California commuter
rail systems in anticipation of the future operation of HSR trains on these tracks as part of a
Blended System. However, at least $55 B of unidentified funding remains necessary for
completion of the Los Angeles to San Francisco system. Therefore, important funding and
environmental issues remain undecided, and must be critically examined prior to final decisions
being made. An ongoing, detailed analysis is even more critical for the complex, blended San
Jose to San Francisco segment.
Guiding Principles
The City Council adopts the following Principles to guide its decision making framework and the
actions of the Committee:
The City of Palo Alto believes that the HSR project should be terminated for the following
reasons:
1. The current project fundamentally contradicts the measure presented to the voters
under Prop. 1A in 2008. The voters approved the measure based on grossly
underestimated construction costs, overstated ridership numbers and underestimated
fares. The voters also expected that HSR could operate without a subsidy and that
Deleted: therefore,
funding sources would be identified and environmental review would be complete prior
to construction of an Initial Operating Segment.
2. Given that the revised HSR Business and Funding Plans do not meet the projected
ridership, fare, job creation, and other significant requirements, the City believes that
the voters were not given the accurate information during the 2008 election necessary
to make an informed decision on a HSR project for the State of California.
The City realizes, however, that there is momentum at the Federal and State level to make
HSR a reality, despite the conflicts with Prop 1A. That said, there are many evolving aspects
of HSR that have not yet been studied or decided.
Therefore, if the State should move forward with the HSR project, the following Guiding
Principles shall apply to the City’s positions on HSR:
1. The City supports a non‐elevated alignment of HSR/Caltrain in Palo Alto.
2. The City’s preferred vertical alignment of fixed rail in Palo Alto is below grade.
3. When examining the potential impacts of vertical rail alignments equal attention shall
be given to all Palo Alto neighborhoods. Adopted mitigation measures should be
proportionate to the impacts identified in the studies.
4. The City believes that the Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Central
Valley to San Francisco portion of HSR is fatally flawed and that the CHSRA should
reopen and reconsider its decision to use the Pacheco Pass route.
5. The City supports the findings of the Legislative Analyst’s Office, State Auditor, and the
HSR Peer Review Committee regarding the viability and accuracy of the CHSRA’s
Business Plan on such matters as the ridership projections, the identification of
sufficient and reliable funding sources, project management, and operation of HSR.
6. The City favors legislation which would enable implementation of the HSR Peer Review
Committee authorized by AB 3034.
7. Palo Alto supports transit and urban design solutions that will be compatible with our
economic development strategies, transportation goals, and rail corridor vision..
HSR/Caltrain needs to complement the goals and strategies of the City’s Comprehensive
Plan.
8. Palo Alto supports the use of the Context Sensitive Solutions process for HSR and
Caltrain that is funded and implemented by the CHSRA.
Deleted: However
Deleted: component and many
Deleted: <#>All neighborhoods in Palo Alto
affected by HSR/Caltrain should be treated with
equal consideration with respect to vertical
alignment impacts.¶
Deleted: which question
Deleted: effective
Deleted: of the transit corridor within our
boundaries
Deleted: effectively
9. The CHSRA should provide sufficient funding to affected cities to allow them to hire
experts to study reports requiring feedback and sufficient outreach to the community to
capture their concerns and suggestions.
10. Proposed changes to the Caltrain corridor by either the CHSRA or PCJPB should provide
both realistic renderings of the various alternatives and simulations that would help
provide an understanding of the system’s sound and vibration impacts.
11. Palo Alto strongly supports Caltrain and the commuter rail service at the present or
improved levels of service.
12. Palo Alto supports the modernization of Caltrain. However, whether the City supports
electrification cannot be determined until all potential impacts are identified, studied
and suitable mitigation measures are implemented.
13. Palo Alto supports Caltrain as the lead agency for all Caltrain Corridor environmental
documents and system improvements.
14. Palo Alto will work cooperatively with neighboring communities with respect to HSR and
Caltrain issues of mutual concern through vehicles such as the Peninsula Cities
Consortium.
15. Palo Alto expects all current rail crossings to remain open to automobiles, bicycles and
pedestrians. In the event that the modernization of Caltrain and/or HSR increases train
service from current 2012 levels, Palo Alto will consider grade separation solutions for
the Alma, Churchill, East Meadow, and East Charleston crossings. These improvements
must be funded and implemented by the lead agency.
16. A detailed and transparent environmental analysis of all proposed improvements must
be completed. Therefore, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)shall not be modified in any way that affects
the HSR or Caltrain Corridor environmental review process as currently required by law.
17. Palo Alto strongly supports revisions to the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board
(PCJPB) governance structure that more accurately reflect the distribution of Caltrain
ridership. Additionally, the PCJPB should consider making such revisions consistent with
a ballot measure seeking a dedicated funding source for Caltrain operations, should one
occur.
18. The Guiding Principles of the Committee incorporates by reference Council adopted
written comments to the CHSRA, PCJPB, and other relevant agencies. In case of any
conflict in policies the most recent language prevails.
Deleted: but
Deleted: or not that includes
Deleted: is still
Deleted: un
Deleted: <#>Palo Alto supports Caltrain as the
lead agency for all system improvements in the
Caltrain corridor.¶
Deleted: active
Deleted: thatare
Deleted: effectively
Deleted: Under no circumstances should HSR
or Caltrain be exempted in any way from the
Deleted: or
Deleted: ), including any amendments.
Deleted: in congruence
Updated: December 6, 2012(previously updated December 19, 2011 October 12, 2011 and May
17, 2010)
Deleted: December 19, 2011
Background
In November 2008 California voters approved Proposition 1A, a $9.95 B bond measure, for High
Speed Rail (HSR) service from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The San Jose to San Francisco
segment of the selected route will take HSR rail service through Palo Alto. This segment is now
proposed to be a “blended system”, primarily relying on existing Caltrain right‐of‐way and
track. In anticipation of HSR, Caltrain is proposing to modernize this segment, including
electrification of the trains. However, the costs and environmental impacts of this “blended
system” continue to evolve, and have not yet been fully defined, studied or mitigated.
The most recent HSR business plan sets the initial cost of the overall HSR system at
approximately $68 B. While this cost reflects a reduction compared to recent cost estimates, it
still significantly exceeds the $33 B cost estimate advertised in Proposition 1A. In this revised
business plan, the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) also continues to use the
debatable and highly optimistic ridership forecast models, and does not address numerous
inconsistencies that had been noted by experts in previous business plans. This analysis,
therefore, creates an unreliable framework for accurate fiscal and environmental review of the
HSR system.
Moving forward, the initial construction segment (ICS) for HSR will be in the Central Valley. In
July 2012, legislation was enacted that allocated approximately $8 B of state and federal money
for construction of the ICS, and for investments in Northern and Southern California commuter
rail systems in anticipation of the future operation of HSR trains on these tracks as part of a
Blended System. However, at least $55 B of unidentified funding remains necessary for
completion of the Los Angeles to San Francisco system. Therefore, important funding and
environmental issues remain undecided, and must be critically examined prior to final decisions
being made. An ongoing, detailed analysis is even more critical for the complex, blended San
Jose to San Francisco segment.
Guiding Principles
The City Council adopts the following Principles to guide its decision making framework and the
actions of the Committee:
The City of Palo Alto believes that the HSR project should be terminated for the following
reasons:
1. The current project fundamentally contradicts the measure presented to the voters
under Prop. 1A in 2008. The voters approved the measure based on grossly
underestimated construction costs, overstated ridership numbers and underestimated
fares. The voters also expected that HSR could operate without a subsidy and that
funding sources would be identified and environmental review would be complete prior
to construction of an Initial Operating Segment.
2. Given that the revised HSR Business and Funding Plans do not meet the projected
ridership, fare, job creation, and other significant requirements, the City believes that
the voters were not given the accurate information during the 2008 election necessary
to make an informed decision on a HSR project for the State of California.
The City realizes, however, that there is momentum at the Federal and State level to make
HSR a reality, despite the conflicts with Prop 1A. That said, there are many evolving aspects
of HSR that have not yet been studied or decided.
Therefore, if the State should move forward with the HSR project, the following Guiding
Principles shall apply to the City’s positions on HSR:
1. The City supports a non‐elevated alignment of HSR/Caltrain in Palo Alto.
2. The City’s preferred vertical alignment of fixed rail in Palo Alto is below grade.
3. When examining the potential impacts of vertical rail alignments equal attention shall
be given to all Palo Alto neighborhoods. Adopted mitigation measures should be
proportionate to the impacts identified in the studies.
4. The City believes that the Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Central
Valley to San Francisco portion of HSR is fatally flawed and that the CHSRA should
reopen and reconsider its decision to use the Pacheco Pass route.
5. The City supports the findings of the Legislative Analyst’s Office, State Auditor, and the
HSR Peer Review Committee regarding the viability and accuracy of the CHSRA’s
Business Plan on such matters as the ridership projections, the identification of
sufficient and reliable funding sources, project management, and operation of HSR.
6. The City favors legislation which would enable implementation of the HSR Peer Review
Committee authorized by AB 3034.
7. Palo Alto supports transit and urban design solutions that will be compatible with our
economic development strategies, transportation goals, and rail corridor vision..
HSR/Caltrain needs to complement the goals and strategies of the City’s Comprehensive
Plan.
8. Palo Alto supports the use of the Context Sensitive Solutions process for HSR and
Caltrain that is funded and implemented by the CHSRA.
9. The CHSRA should provide sufficient funding to affected cities to allow them to hire
experts to study reports requiring feedback and sufficient outreach to the community to
capture their concerns and suggestions.
10. Proposed changes to the Caltrain corridor by either the CHSRA or PCJPB should provide
both realistic renderings of the various alternatives and simulations that would help
provide an understanding of the system’s sound and vibration impacts.
11. Palo Alto strongly supports Caltrain and the commuter rail service at the present or
improved levels of service.
12. Palo Alto supports the modernization of Caltrain. However, whether the City supports
electrification cannot be determined until all potential impacts are identified, studied
and suitable mitigation measures are implemented.
13. Palo Alto supports Caltrain as the lead agency for all Caltrain Corridor environmental
documents and system improvements.
14. Palo Alto will work cooperatively with neighboring communities with respect to HSR and
Caltrain issues of mutual concern through vehicles such as the Peninsula Cities
Consortium.
15. Palo Alto expects all current rail crossings to remain open to automobiles, bicycles and
pedestrians. In the event that the modernization of Caltrain and/or HSR increases train
service from current 2012 levels, Palo Alto will consider grade separation solutions for
the Alma, Churchill, East Meadow, and East Charleston crossings. These improvements
must be funded and implemented by the lead agency.
16. A detailed and transparent environmental analysis of all proposed improvements must
be completed. Therefore, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)shall not be modified in any way that affects
the HSR or Caltrain Corridor environmental review process as currently required by law.
17. Palo Alto strongly supports revisions to the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board
(PCJPB) governance structure that more accurately reflect the distribution of Caltrain
ridership. Additionally, the PCJPB should consider making such revisions consistent with
a ballot measure seeking a dedicated funding source for Caltrain operations, should one
occur.
18. The Guiding Principles of the Committee incorporates by reference Council adopted
written comments to the CHSRA, PCJPB, and other relevant agencies. In case of any
conflict in policies the most recent language prevails.
Updated: December 6, 2012 (previously updated December 19, 2011 October 12, 2011 and
May 17, 2010)