Caltrain unveils final environmental report for electrification project, OKs rail-car purchase

Caltrain yesterday released the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the electrification plan for the corridor between San Jose and San Francisco, a major milestone in the railroad's efforts to improve its commuter-rail service.

The Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project is part of the Caltrain Modernization Program, which will electrify the San Francisco-San Jose corridor, and involves the purchase of new high-performance electric rail vehicles, upgrades to the signal system and the implementation of positive train control.

One of the issues discussed in the EIR is tree removal, Caltrain officials said in a press release. The draft EIR based on a worst-case overhead contact system alignment of poles on the outside of the tracks, which would have the greatest impact to trees on or next to the right of way. Based on additional study, the FEIR shows a potential reduction by more than half in the number of trees that will require removal from an original projection of 2,200 to 1,000 trees. About 19,000 trees and other vegetation exist in the corridor area from San Francisco to Gilroy.

Also, the report reflects public input taken during the draft EIR process by including additional options requested by cities for the locations of key wayside facilities required for the electrification of the rail corridor. These include additional option locations for traction power facilities in South San Francisco, Burlingame, San Mateo, and Redwood City, as well as several additional options for mitigations that can be made to reduce the impact of TPFs in other locations along the rail corridor.

In November, Caltrain updated the cost for electrification at $1.47 billion to $1.53 billion; the previous projection was $1.22 billion. The agency also updated its projected service date for electrification, and now expects to be operating electrified service between winter 2020 and spring 2021. The updated information is included in the FEIR.

"The Final EIR includes actions to further reduce the impacts identified in the draft and reflects new options that are responsive to the requests of communities along the rail corridor," said Marian Lee, executive officer of the modernization program. "This marks the beginning of the most important work we will do on this project, continue to work with our neighbors to reach a final project design that electrifies the Caltrain corridor in the most efficient and least impactful way possible."

Meanwhile, Caltrain's board yesterday authorized the agency to enter into an agreement with Metrolink to purchase 16 surplus rail cars at a cost of $5.6 million. The cost does not include an additional $9.4 million to rehabilitate the cars and perform work at some platforms to accommodate longer trains.

The total project cost of $15 million will be paid through a combination of surplus farebox revenue and a 2015 firebox revenue bond issuance, Caltrain officials said in a press release.

The additional cars will be used to extend train sets and provide more capacity for standing-room only peak-hour trains.