Town of Atherton ATHERTON RAIL COMMITTEE MINUTES TUESDAY, June 2, 2020 Regular Meeting 6:00 P.M

Town of Atherton ATHERTON RAIL COMMITTEE MINUTES TUESDAY, June 2, 2020 Regular Meeting 6:00 p.m. This meeting was held virtually

This meeting is compliant with the Governors Executive Order N-25-20 issued on March 4, 2020 allowing for deviation of teleconference rules required by the Brown Act. The purpose of this is to provide the safest environment for staff and the public while allowing for public participation. The meeting will be held by tele or video conferencing. The public may participate via: Zoom Meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting: Remote Public Comments:

One tap mobile Meeting participants are encouraged to submit +16699006833,,97996012676# US (San Jose) public comments in writing in advance of the meeting. The following email address will be Dial by your location monitored during the meeting and public +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) comments received will be read into the record. Meeting ID: 979 9601 2676 Email: [email protected] Weblink: https://ci-atherton-ca.zoom.us/j/97996012676

1. ROLL CALL

Committee Members: Alex Keh (Chair), Scott Lane (Vice Chair), Malcolm Dudley, Jack Ringham, Greg Conlon, Paul Jones, Nerissa Dexter, Jim Janz, John Maulbetsch, James Massey

Councilmember Liaisons: Council Member Cary Wiest

Staff: Robert Ovadia

2. PUBLIC COMMENTS – For items not on the agenda. (This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the Committee on any matter on the agenda that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Rail Committee. State law prohibits the Committee from acting on items not listed on the Agenda.)

None.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – February 4, 2020 Recommendation: Approve minutes for February 4, 2020

Town of Atherton Rail Committee Minutes – June 2, 2020 Page 2

Approval of February 4, 2020 Minutes: Approved Motion: John Maulbetsch Second: Paul Jones Abstained: Alex Keh and Nerissa Dexter

4. PRESENTATIONS – High-Speed Rail Authority (20 min.) Update on HSR Activities, 2020 Business Plan, and EIR/EIS release and Public Input Opportunities

Boris Lipkin, California High-Speed Rail Authority Northern California Regional Director provided an update on current High-Speed Rail Authority activities including:  2020 Business Plan  Expenditures  Status of Project Segments  Status of Environmental Clearances  San Francisco – San Jose Project Segment o Environmental Document . Overview of Alternatives . Structure of EIR/EIS . Release – Anticipated July 10, 2020, 45-day comment period . Public Comments – Accepted through August 24, 2020 . Anticipated Public Workshops

5. REGULAR AGENDA

5a. Caltrain Station Closure (10 min.) The Committee will receive a brief update on the proposal received from Caltrain to close the Atherton Caltrain Station. The Committee will have the opportunity to discuss this item. Not an action item.

Council Subcommittee has been formed and assigned to coordinate with Caltrain regarding station closure. Memorandum of Understanding being developed with Caltrain. Caltrain has initiated required analysis to support closure.

Roland Lebrun indicated that he gave a presentation to the Redwood City City Council regarding a new Caltrain/HSR/Dumbarton station at Redwood Junction. Offered to provide the same presentation to the Rail Committee. 5b. Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project Update and Discussion (5 min.) The Committee will receive a brief report on current activities related to Caltrain’s electrification of the peninsula corridor. The Committee will have the opportunity to discuss current and upcoming activities as well as related items. Not an action item.

Caltrain’s Contractor, Balfour Beatty, has been working in the vicinity of

Town of Atherton Rail Committee Minutes – June 2, 2020 Page 3

the Watkins Avenue Crossing including new communications building and trenching for conduits to the gates at the corners. No schedule provided yet regarding the installation of the remaining foundations and standing of the poles.

5c. High-Speed Rail Update and EIR/EIS Discussion (30 min.) The Committee will receive an update on the High-Speed Rail Project including procurement status and anticipated timing of the business plan and environmental documents associated with the Northern segment. Due to the anticipated timing of the public comment periods, the Committee may discuss how comments are to be submitted by committee members and designate a committee member to aggregate comments and work with staff to draft a response letter for consideration by Council. The Committee also may act to authorize a recommendation to Council to formally send the aggregated response letter to the High-Speed Rail Authority.

EIR/EIS for the SF/SJ segment anticipated for release on July 10, 2020, with comments due by August 24, 2020. Committee members encouraged to review the EIR/EIS and submit comments to staff. Subcommittee formed (Maulbetsch, Jones, Keh) to review the comments and develop a draft comment letter for the Committee’s review at the August meeting.

5d. Caltrain Update (10 min.) The Committee will receive a brief report on current issues and considerations at Caltrain including governance structure and proposed sales tax measure. The Committee will have the opportunity to discuss current and upcoming Caltrain issues as well as related items. Not an action item.

Caltrain is working on a potential 1/8 cent sales tax funding measure for the November 2020 ballot. To be placed on the ballot, measure would need approval from three County Boards of Supervisors (San Mateo, San Francisco, and Santa Clara), SamTrans, and the three County transit authorities. Filing deadline is August 7, 2020.

Caltrain has been reviewing and exploring changes to its governance structure as part of the development of its 2040 Business Plan. Caltrain is investigating the potential separation from SamTrans. This potential change is being pushed by San Francisco and Santa Clara Counties to allow them greater input in how Caltrain runs.

PA Post Article regarding ridership and budgetary shortfalls.

5e. Dumbarton Rail Corridor Update (5 min.) The Committee will receive a brief report on the current status of the Dumbarton Rail Corridor. The Committee will have the opportunity to discuss the Dumbarton Rail Corridor, current and upcoming activities as well as related items. Not an action item.

Town of Atherton Rail Committee Minutes – June 2, 2020 Page 4

Facebook is considering backing out of the Cross-Bay Transit Partnership. They want to focus on local community issues and may withdraw their financial support for continuing the environmental review process.

6. COMMITTEE AND STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS

None.

7. PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Presentation from Rolland Lebrun that he presented to Redwood City High-Speed Rail Authority EIR/EIS for San Francisco – San Jose Segment

9. NEXT MEETING – August 4, 2020

10. ADJOURN

Next meeting is scheduled for: August 4, 2020

Please contact the City Clerk’s office at (650) 752-0500 with any questions. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 752-0500. Notification of 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the Town to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. (29 CRF 35.104 ADA Title II)

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION

Atherton Rail Committee

June 2, 2020 STATEWIDE PROGRAM

2 DRAFT 2020 BUSINESS PLAN

• Required by PUC Section 185033 » Foundational document for implementing the program » Required every two years (even years) • Includes: » Updated capital cost and other estimates » Updated ridership and revenue forecasts » Summary of progress over last two years » Review of current challenges and how to address them • Released in mid February and requires 60 day public review • Public Comment period extended to June 1 • Due to the Legislature July 1, 2020

DRAFT 2020 BUSINESS PLAN 3 LEADERSHIP IN SUSTAINABILITY

• California is the national leader on clean transportation in the era of climate change • Meeting our mobility, economic, and environmental goals • More than $6.4 Billion has been invested in planning and building high-speed rail

DRAFT 2020 BUSINESS PLAN 4 A GOOD INVESTMENT Cost of High-Speed Rail Phase 1 compared to cost of equivalent highway/air capacity

DRAFT 2020 BUSINESS PLAN 5 WHERE WE ARE IN 2020

• 350 miles of electrified high-speed rail on the way to or under construction » 171 miles between Merced and Bakersfield » 51 miles of the Caltrain Corridor being electrified » 130 miles connecting Las Vegas to Southern California

• Remainder of Phase 1 (San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim) environmental clearance underway » 5 Draft EIR/EIS documents planned in 2020

DRAFT 2020 BUSINESS PLAN 7 LOOKING AHEAD TO 2022

• 350 miles of high-speed rail under construction » First high-speed trains under development

• Full Phase 1 environmental clearance complete » Advancing strategic investments » Pursuing additional funding

DRAFT 2020 BUSINESS PLAN 8 MOMENTUM PICKING UP IN THE FIELD AVERAGE MONTHLY EXPENDITURES BY QUARTER

STATEWIDE PROGRAM 9 MOMENTUM PICKING UP IN THE FIELD WEEKLY AVERAGE WORKERS DISPATCHED

First week of April was an all time high of 821 workers dispatched

STATEWIDE PROGRAM 10 MOMENTUM PICKING UP IN THE FIELD STRUCTURE AND GUIDEWAY PROGRESS 2019/2020

As of first week of April up to 77 miles of Guideway and 39 Structures underway and/or complete

STATEWIDE PROGRAM 11 ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS REPORT 2018/19

• Estimates the economic impacts of planning and constructing a high-speed rail system

California Statewide Economic Impacts Total for July 2006 – June 2019 Direct Investment and Economic Impacts By Region

BAY AREA FY 18/19 PROGRAM TOTAL

Job-Years of 1,110 4,710 Employment

Future Economic Impacts Silicon Valley to Central Valley Line Labor Income $110 M $440 M

Economic Output $280 M $930 M

222,000 $17B $50B

• Technical Report » hsr.ca.gov/docs/brdmeetings/2019/brdmtg_031919_Item6_Economic_Impact_Technical_Supporting_Document.pdf

STATEWIDE PROGRAM 12 HIGH-SPEED RAIL IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA IN 2020

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT STAGES

Planning Environmental Pre-Construction Construction Operations

Created by Ragal Kartidev from the Noun Project

Diridon Integrated San Francisco to Downtown Caltrain Salesforce Station Concept Merced Corridor Extension (DTX) Electrification Transit Center

DRAFT 2020 BUSINESS PLAN 13 LOOKING AHEAD IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA NEXT STEPS AFTER ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE

Strategic Right-of-Way Acquisitions

Third-Party Agreements

Completion of Preliminary Engineering for Environmental Procurement

Created by Ragal Kartidev Clearance from the Noun Project

Closure of Funding Gap

DRAFT 2020 BUSINESS PLAN 14 SAN FRANCISCO TO SAN JOSE PROJECT SECTION

15 ENVIRONMENTAL MILESTONES SAN FRANCISCO TO SAN JOSE PROJECT SECTION

2020 2021

July August Summer Environmental Milestones Draft Close of Public Final EIR/EIS & EIR/EIS Comment Period Project Approval

July/August Open Houses & Public Hearing

March July/August Fall Spring CWG Meetings

Ongoing Community Outreach

SAN FRANCISCO TO SAN JOSE PROJECT SECTION 16 SAN FRANCISCO – SAN JOSE PROJECT ALTERNATIVES A AND B SAN FRANCISCO TO SAN JOSE Common Project Elements – Alternatives A & B

• High-Speed Rail stations1 » San Francisco 4th and King » Millbrae » Diridon Station • Up to 110 mph speeds » Track modifications to support higher speeds • Peak operations » 4 High-Speed Rail trains and 6 Caltrain trains per hour/per direction

1 Salesforce Transit Center has been environmentally cleared by Transbay Joint Powers Authority and will not be part of the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s environmental analysis.

San Jose Diridon Station is being evaluated as part of the San Jose to Merced Project Section but will be included in both project sections’ environmental analysis. SAN FRANCISCO TO SAN JOSE PROJECT SECTION 18 SAN FRANCISCO TO SAN JOSE Common Project Elements – Alternatives A & B

• Remove hold-out rule at Broadway and Atherton Caltrain Stations

• Safety modifications at Caltrain-only stations and at-grade crossings

• Corridor fencing

Blended At-Grade • Uses Caltrain electrification infrastructure and tracks • Predominantly within the existing railroad right-of-way • At-grade tracks with quad gates at each road crossing

SAN FRANCISCO TO SAN JOSE PROJECT SECTION 19 DEVELOPMENT & REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT = ongoing outreach

Notice of Development & Identification of Preparation Evaluation of Alternatives Preferred Alternative SJSF -–MercedSJ

SJ – Merced Public Review of Cooperating & Responsible Prepare Draft Draft EIR/EIS Agency Review EIR/EIS

Respond to Comments Cooperating & Responsible Public Review of Authority Certifies and Prepare Final EIR/EIS Agency Review Final EIR/EIS Final EIR/EIS and Issues ROD SAN FRANCISCO TO SAN JOSE PROJECT SECTION 20 WHAT’S IN THE DRAFT EIR/EIS? TABLE OF CONTENTS • Volume I: Executive Summary & Report/Statement » Executive Summary » Chapter 1: Project Purpose, Need, and Objectives » Chapter 2: Alternatives » Chapter 3: Affected Environment, Environmental Consequences, and Mitigation Measures » Chapter 4: Section 4(f)/6(f) Evaluation » Chapter 5: Environmental Justice » Chapter 6: Project Costs and Operations » Chapter 7: Other CEQA/NEPA Considerations » Chapter 8: Preferred Alternative » Chapter 9: Public and Agency Involvement » Supporting other Chapters • Volume II: Technical Appendices » Detailed data supporting environmental analysis • Volume III: Preliminary Design » Preliminary engineering design plans

PREPARING FOR THE DRAFT EIR/EIS 21 WHAT SUBJECTS ARE REVIEWED IN THE DRAFT EIR/EIS? VOLUME I, CHAPTER 3-6 TOPICS

• Aesthetics & Visual Quality • Electromagnetic Fields & • Public Utilities & Energy • Air Quality & Greenhouse Electromagnetic Interference • Regional Growth Gases • Environmental Justice • Safety & Security • Biological & Aquatic • Geology, Soils, Seismicity & • Section 4(f)/6(f) Evaluation Resources Paleontological Resources • Socioeconomics & • Capital & Operating Costs • Hazardous Materials Communities & Waste • Cultural Resources • Station Planning, Land Use & Hydrology & Water Resources • Cumulative Impacts • Development Noise & Vibration • Design Variants to Optimize • • Transportation Speeds • Parks, Recreation & Open Space

PREPARING FOR THE DRAFT EIR/EIS 22 HOW TO SUBMIT COMMENTS

• July 10, 2020 to August 24, 2020* @ • By Email » [email protected] • By Mail » Attn: San Francisco to San Jose Project Section: Draft EIR/EIS, 100 Paseo de San Antonio, Suite 300, San Jose, CA 95113 • In Person » Open Houses in San Francisco, Redwood City, and Santa Clara – Written comments or comment cards only » Public Hearing in San Francisco – Verbal comments, written comments, or comment cards » Northern California Regional Office (regular business hours) – Written comments only

*COVID-19 UPDATE* Due to public health and safety requirements concerning the coronavirus, the community open house(s) and/or the public hearing for the Draft EIR/EIS may need to occur as online and/or teleconference meetings only. Please check the Authority website (www.hsr.ca.gov) for more information, including up-to-date information on the planned hearing and open houses.

PREPARING FOR THE DRAFT EIR/EIS 23 DRAFT EIR/EIS OUTREACH PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: JULY 10 – AUGUST 24

Open Houses Public Hearing • San Francisco • San Francisco » Monday, July 20, 2020, 4 – 7 pm » Wednesday, August 19, 2020, 3 – 8 pm » Bay Area Metro Center » Bay Area Metro Center • Redwood City Staff Office Hours » Thursday, July 30, 2020, 4 – 7 pm • Northern CA Regional Office » Redwood City American Legion » Wednesday, July 22, 2020, 11 am – 2 pm • Santa Clara » Wednesday, July 29, 2020, 11 am – 2 pm » Wednesday, August 5, 2020, 4 – 7 pm » Wednesday, August 12, 2020, 11 am – 2 pm » Santa Clara Marriott

PREPARING FOR THE DRAFT EIR/EIS 24 Headquarters Northern California Regional Office California High-Speed Rail Authority 770 L Street, Suite 620 California High-Speed Rail Authority Sacramento, CA 95814 100 Paseo De San Antonio, Suite 300 www.hsr.ca.gov San Jose, CA 95113 ARCHIVES ABOUT SPOTLIGHT OPINION COMMENT CONTACT

AWARDS OBITUARIES JOBS

HOME  CALTRAIN  Caltrain ridership drops 97%; $20 million budget shortfall

Caltrain ridership drops 97%; $20 million budget shortfall

 June 2, 2020 7:30 am

      BY ELAINE GOODMAN Daily Post Correspondent

After seeing passenger counts plummet by 97% due to COVID-19 stay- at-home orders in the Bay Area, Caltrain is forecasting a $20 million budget shortfall during the first three months of its new fiscal year, starting July 1.

Caltrain Executive Director Jim Hartnett has proposed plugging the budget gap with federal coronavirus relief funds the agency is receiving. The Caltrain board of directors will vote on the proposed budget during a meeting on Thursday (June 4).

Caltrain officials admit they don’t know when or by how much ridership will rebound. “The return to pre-COVID ridership levels will not be quick, easy or entirely predictable,” Hartnett said in a budget report.

Uncertainty

Jobs that have been lost due to the pandemic might not return, Hartnett noted, which could mean fewer riders for the commuter rail line. Employees who have grown accustomed to working at home might continue to do so. Schools’ reopening plans might also have an impact on ridership, he said.

Because of the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, Caltrain has only prepared a budget for the first quarter of the next fiscal year. The agency will wait to see what trends develop over the next few months before budgeting for the full year.

Caltrain’s average weekday ridership dropped from 67,728 in April 2019 to 1,547 in April 2020, a 97.7% decrease, according to a report for Thursday’s board meeting. The ridership figures count roundtrips twice. Total April ridership fell from 1.59 million in 2019 to 38,858 this year.

In response to the ridership decrease, Caltrain cut its schedule from 92 trains per day to 70 trains, and then to 42 trains daily. Even so, trains carried only a handful of passengers at times. Four people and three bicycles were on board a train that struck and killed a man in Redwood City on May 4, an incident that happened around 4 p.m. on a Monday.

Predictions  The proposed operations budget for the first three months of the new fiscal year — July, August and September — “cautiously assumes” that people will start riding the train again during the quarter. The budget projects that farebox revenue will be down 70%, or $18.5 million less, than in the same quarter last year. Parking revenue will be down about $1.2 million, a 90% decrease; and shuttle revenue will be down by $257,800, a 41% drop.

Overall, revenue for the three-month period is projected to be $22.8 million, about 47% less than the same period last year. Expenses for the quarter will stay about the same as last year, at $43 million, for a budget gap of $20.2 million.

Caltrain is receiving $49 million through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act. Of that, $20 million will be used to plug the budget gap for the first quarter of next fiscal year. Remaining funds will go toward budget deficits for the current fiscal year.

Extending the time on Go Passes

In a separate agenda item, the board will vote on whether to extend the expiration date of Go Passes to make up for the time that many riders couldn’t use the passes because of the counties’ stay-at-home orders.

Through the Go Pass program, businesses, schools and residential complexes buy annual unlimited-ride passes for their workers, students, or residents. The program has 121 participants and 87,206 eligible users, and brings in about $30 million a year. Extending existing Go Passes for 10 weeks would result in about $6.3 WE PUBLISH LEGALS million in lost revenue.

The reduced ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic has had one The Daily Post has been bright side for Caltrain. With fewer trains running, improvement projects adjudicated by the Superior Court have been able to proceed more easily, such as the 25th Avenue grade of Santa Clara County as a separation project in San Mateo. The agency said it’s also catching up newspaper of general circulation in with deferred maintenance projects. the City of Palo Alto and County of Santa Clara, and is qualified to  PREVIOUS NEXT  publish legal notices, including: School district settles Nighttime protesters suit over violating the blocked from police • Fictitious Business Name public records act station, then they Statements (FBNs) head to Zuckerberg’s • Legal name changes house • Petitions to Administer Estate (Probate)  • Notices of Public Sale