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Caltrain Electrification Program: Environmental Assessment/ Final

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Caltrain Electrification Program: Environmental Assessment/ Final CALTRAIN ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM San Francisco to San Jose (MP 0.0 to 52.0) U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration Environmental Assessment/ Final Environmental Impact Report Volume I PENINSULA CORRIDOR JOINT POWERS BOARD July 2009 SCH No. 2000082093 CALTRAIN ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM in the City and County of San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT/ FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT Pursuant to National Environmental Policy Act (42 USC §4332) 49 USC Chapter 53, 16 USC §470, 23 CFR Part 771, 23 CFR Part 450, Executive Order 12898; and California Environmental Quality Act, PRC 21000 et seq.; and the State of California CEQA Guidelines, California Administrative Code, 15000 et seq. by the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION and the PENINSULA CORRIDOR JOINT POWERS BOARD For JPB:______________________________________ For FTA:_____________________________________ Michael Scanlon Date Leslie T. Rogers Date Executive Director Region IX Administrator Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board Federal Transit Administration The following persons may be contacted for additional information concerning this document: Ms. Stacy Cocke Mr. Eric Eidlin Senior Planner Program Specialist, Office of Planning and Programming San Mateo County Transit District U.S. Department of Transportation 1250 San Carlos Avenue Federal Transit Administration, Region IX P.O. Box 3006 201 Mission Street, Suite 2210 San Carlos, CA 94070-1306 San Francisco, CA 94105 (650) 508-6207 (415) 744-3115 ABSTRACT: The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board proposes to convert the Peninsula Commute Service (Caltrain) from diesel-hauled to electric-hauled trains and install some 130 to 140 single-track miles of overhead contact system and approximately 10 traction power station facilities for the distribution of electrical power to the electric rolling stock consisting of electric locomotives or electric multiple units. The purposes of this project are to improve Caltrain performance, reduce noise, improve regional air quality, and modernize Caltrain. Increases in Caltrain ridership, reductions in automobile congestion on parallel routes, reductions in energy consumption, reductions in train noise, and improvements in regional air quality are expected to result. Impacts include the potential for encountering hazardous wastes and disturbing sensitive archaeological resources, potential effects to special status species, noise impacts of traction power stations, visual changes, and impacts during construction. Proposed design features and mitigation measures include a Vegetation Management Plan, a Biological Resources Management Plan, a Cultural Resources Programmatic Agreement, coordination with utility providers and advance notice to customers, a Worker Health and Safety Plan, and management practices during construction. Preface PREFACE The Caltrain Electrification Program is an integral part of the Caltrain Strategic Plan, which proposes to convert a substantial portion of existing Caltrain diesel-powered passenger rail service to electric operation by 2015. Under the current scope of the Project, electrical lines would be installed along the 51 mile Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB) owned right-of-way, allowing electric vehicles to provide a more modern and efficient service between San Francisco and San Jose. A total of 10 traction power stations, and approximately 140 track miles of overhead contact wires would be constructed to supply power to 114 trains per day. While the project remains essentially the same as when it was initially assessed, several project characteristics have changed since the publication of the Caltrain Electrification Program Environmental Assessment / Draft Environmental Impact Report (EA/DEIR) in 2004. The changes came about due to a refinement of operational strategy by Caltrain to focus the electrification enhancements to the more heavily traveled Peninsula portion of the service, as well as to reduce the capital cost of the project. Several project characteristics remain unchanged. For these practical and economic reasons, the project limits are now confined between San Francisco and San Jose (Tamien Station). Diesel-powered passenger service would remain in place between the San Jose Diridon station and Gilroy for the remainder of Caltrain’s total 77-mile route. Changes to the project limits were discussed by the JPB Board of Directors in several meetings between January 2006 and May 2006. It was confirmed by the Board members in April 2006 that the level of ridership south of Tamien to Gilroy did not warrant the expense of electrification by 2015. Since that time the planning, studies, engineering and environmental clearance of the project has been focused on the San Francisco to Tamien portion of the Caltrain corridor. This EA/Final EIR (EA/FEIR) represents an update to and completion of the 2004 EA/DEIR with the refined project characteristics. The changes to the project reflected herein are summarized in the Table P-1 below. Caltrain Electrification Program EA/EIR P-1 Preface Table P-1: 2004 EA/DEIR and 2008 EA/FEIR Project Characteristics 2004 EA/DEIR 2008 EA/FEIR Project Location and 77-mile Caltrain corridor from San 51-mile Caltrain corridor from San Limits Francisco to Gilroy Francisco to San Jose Electrification service year 2008 2015 of commencement Level of Service (LOS) No Project Alternative and No Project Alternative and Electrification Program (Project) Electrification Program (Project) Alternative have same LOS Alternative have different LOS • Year 2008 (No Project and • No Project Alternative LOS at 98 Project Alternatives) LOS at 98 tpd including 6 trains per day trains per day (tpd) including 8 between SJ and Gilroy trains per day between San Jose • Year 2035 Project Alternative and Gilroy LOS at 114 tpd including 6 diesel • Year 2020 (No Project and only trains between SJ and Gilroy Project Alternatives) LOS increase to 132 trains per day including 20 trains per day in the SJ and Gilroy. Rolling Stock Replacement of entire diesel fleet in Replacement of a portion of diesel year of electrification fleet approaching the end of their commencement (2008) useful life in 2015 Three options proposed: Identifies preferred rolling-stock • Option 1: Replace Diesel option as Option 2: Electric Multiple Locomotives with new Electric Units (EMUs) Locomotives • Option 2: Electric Multiple Units (EMUs) • Option 3: Replace Diesel Locomotives with new Electric Locomotives and existing Passenger Cars with new Passenger Cars Traction Power Facilities 13 proposed traction power facilities 10 proposed traction power facilities; several of the sites have been relocated since 2004 EA/DEIR due to development pressures along the right- of-way; 8 of 10 facility locations are within Caltrain right-of-way Electrical System • Overhead contact system Same as 2004 EA/DEIR Components • Auto-transformer power feed arrangement • Overbridge protection barriers The EA/DEIR for the Caltrain Electrification Program was circulated for public review and comment in 2004. The public review period began on April 5, 2004 and concluded on May 25, 2004 - a period of 50 days. P-2 Caltrain Electrification Program EA/EIR Preface During the public review period, four public hearings were conducted - in San Francisco, San Carlos, Sunnyvale and Morgan Hill. The public hearings were advertised by means of direct mailings, announcements posted at Caltrain stations, newspaper display ads, and press releases. Representatives of government agencies, associations and organizations, businesses and members of the general public attended the public meetings. A total of 36 oral comments and 12 written comment cards were taken at the public hearings. The public comment period yielded the following comment letters on the Draft EA/EIR: federal agencies (2); state agencies (5); regional agencies (2); local agencies (11); transit agencies (4); associations and organizations (7); businesses (4); individuals (65). Also, a series of information meetings were conducted, from March 2000 until May 2004, for the purpose of explaining the project and soliciting input. The proposed Caltrain Electrification Program is consistent with the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board's (PCJPB) Strategic Plan: 2004-2023 (adopted July, 2004). The currently proposed program is also consistent with Project 2025 (adopted by the PCJPB in November, 2006) which is a program of capital improvement plans and actions intended to carry out the objectives of the Strategic Plan: 2004-2023. This Final EA/EIR provides revised environmental impact analysis and associated mitigation measures reflecting the reduced electrification corridor length and revised project characteristics. This document also provides responses to the comments received on the 2004 Draft EA/EIR, presented in the context of the currently proposed program of improvements. Responses to comments can be found in Volume II of the document; Volume III contains the original comments. Caltrain Electrification Program EA/EIR P-3 Table of Contents PREFACE .............................................................................................................................. P-1 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................... S-1 S.1 PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR CALTRAIN ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM ......... S-1 S.2 ALTERNATIVES .............................................................................................................
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