Caltrain releases Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project FEIR

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

Caltrain released the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the planned electrification of the Caltrain corridor between San Jose and San Francisco, Calif.

 

The Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project (PCEP) is part of the Caltrain Modernization Program, which will electrify the corridor and purchase new high-performance electric rail vehicles, upgrade the railroad’s signal system and implement Positive Train Control.

By 2040, an electrified Caltrain system will improve corridor air quality by up to 97 percent, more than double current weekday ridership with increased service and the downtown San Francisco extension and take more than 600,000 daily vehicle miles off the region’s roadways.

One of the issues discussed in the EIR is tree removal. This was analyzed in the Draft EIR based on a worst-case Overhead Contact System (OCS) alignment of poles on the outside of the tracks, which would have the greatest impact to trees on or adjacent 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 based on a likely pole position instead of a worst-case assumption. There are approximately 19,000 trees and other vegetation in the immediate Caltrain corridor area from San Francisco to Gilroy. Alternative pole configurations, such as a center pole, could help reduce the number even further while also reducing property acquisition needs outside of the rail right-of-way.

The report also reflects public feedback taken through the Draft EIR review period 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 (TPF) 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.

Caltrain expects to be operating electrified service between winter 2020 and spring 2021.

“The Final EIR reflects many months of community engagement and the more than 230 comments received during the Draft EIR review period,” said Marian Lee, executive officer, Caltrain Modernization Program. “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.”

 

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