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78 Page 1 REPORT February 9, 2009 SUBJECT Study Session: Proposed California High Speed Rail Project - San Francisco to San Jose Section, on the Caltrain Corridor RECOMMENDATION 1. Provide input to staff for use in the City's official scoping comments letter to the California High Speed Rail Authority (Authority), in response to the Notice of Preparation of Environmental Impact Report/Statement (EIR/EIS). 2. Discuss possible policies, principles, and guidelines that the City Council may wish to create outlining the community's best interests related to the proposed project, and its potential implementation alternatives. BACKGROUND In November, 2008, California voters approved a bond measure to finance the design and construction of the California High Speed Rail System. This is proposed to be an electrified high speed passenger rail system connecting Sacramento to Los Angeles, with extensions through San Francisco, the Peninsula, San Jose, and south Santa Clara County. With the decision made to proceed, the choices and decisions ahead are critically important to Redwood City and neighboring communities: How the system will be designed and built, and how its impacts and potential benefits can be balanced to meet the public interests. The Authority and the SAMTRANS I Caltrain Joint Powers Board are currently negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding that will shape the evolution of a combined High Speed Rail system and electrified Caltrain service that will be fully compatible and fully grade separated from local streets and highways, and within a four- track right of way configuration. On January 12, 2009, the Authority issued a Notice of Preparation of a project Environmental Impact Report/Statement (EIRlEIS) for the San Francisco-to-San Jose segment of the proposed system. The Authority is soliciting public and agency input into the development of the scope of the EIR. The deadline for comments is March 6,2009. A public scoping session was held in San Carlos on January 22, 2009 (one of three offered countywide). A public information I scoping session is tentatively scheduled for the first week of March in Redwood City, and staff is working with the Authority's consultants to determine purpose and method of outreach. t Redwood City staff is studying the proposal in order to provide thoughtful input and ensure that the project EIRlEIS addresses the critical issues and impacts of the proposed project on Redwood City. Attached is a very preliminary list of some of the impacts that will be included (in more detail) in the scoping comment letter. A City Council discussion of these and other potential impacts will add to the depth and value of the City's scoping comments, and will help ensure that the community's best interests are represented.