ACEforward. ACEforward includes a range of potential near-term and longer-term improvements.

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1 NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT ACEforward PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD: WEDNESDAY MAY 31, 2017 MONDAY, JULY 31, 2017 DATE: TO: Responsible Agencies, Trustee Agencies, and Other Interested Parties FROM: San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission SUBJECT: Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Report for ACEforward (SCH # ) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC), acting as lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), has prepared a draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for ACEforward. A. ACEforward Location and Limits SJRRC manages and operates the Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) service, which currently provides intercity and commuter rail service between San Jose and Stockton. The existing 86-mile ACE service corridor passes through Santa Clara, Alameda, and San Joaquin Counties, with 10 stations along the route. At the western end of the ACE corridor, ACE operates on an approximately 4-mile segment of track between San Jose and Santa Clara owned and operated by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (PCJPB, also referred to as Caltrain). North of the Santa Clara Station to Stockton, ACE operates on approximately 82 miles of track owned by Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR). ACE operates on portions of UPRR s Coast, Niles, Oakland, and Fresno subdivisions. 1 For the analytical purpose of the EIR, the ACEforward corridor is divided into nine geographic segments. The nine geographic segments consists of (from west to east): San Jose to Fremont, Centerville to Union City, Centerville/Niles/Sunol, Tri-Valley, Altamont, Tracy to Lathrop, Lathrop to Stockton, Manteca to Modesto, and Modesto to Merced. ACEforward includes a range of potential near-term and longer-term improvements. The area for ACEforward s near-term improvements consists of the existing ACE corridor between San Jose and Stockton in PCJPB and UPRR ROWs, the potential ACE extension to Modesto within the existing UPRR ROW, areas immediately adjacent to specific near-term improvements, several areas outside of the existing UPRR ROW where new track alignments are proposed, and other nearby areas that may be used for construction staging or access. The limits of the near-term improvements span Santa Clara, Alameda, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus Counties. Near-term improvements are proposed in the following geographic segments, listed west to east: San Jose to Fremont, Centerville/Niles/Sunol, Tri-Valley, Altamont, Tracy to Lathrop, Lathrop to Stockton, and Manteca to Modesto. 1 A subdivision is a portion of railroad or railway that operates under a single timetable (authority for train movement in the area).

2 Page 2 of 12 The area for ACEforward s longer-term improvements consists of the existing ACE corridor between San Jose and Stockton in Caltrain and UPRR ROWs, the potential ACE extension to Merced within the existing UPRR ROW, areas immediately adjacent to specific longer-term improvements, several areas outside of the existing UPRR ROW (for rail connections to BART in Union City and in the Tri-Valley segments and for tunnel options in the Altamont segment) where new track alignments are proposed, and other nearby areas that may be used for construction staging or access. Longer-term improvements span Santa Clara, Alameda, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Merced Counties. Longer-term improvements are proposed in the following geographic segments, listed west to east: San Jose to Fremont, Centerville to Union City, Tri-Valley, Altamont, Tracy to Lathrop, Lathrop to Stockton, Manteca to Modesto, and Modesto to Merced. B. Description of ACEforward ACEforward is a phased improvement plan proposed by SJRRC to increase service reliability and frequency, enhance passenger facilities, and reduce travel times along the existing ACE service corridor from San Jose to Stockton and to extend ACE service to Manteca, Modesto, Ceres, Turlock and Merced. This plan would provide the foundation for SJRRC s near-term and longer-term vision of intercity and commuter passenger rail services. The ACEforward plan contains both near-term and longer-term improvements that are analyzed in this EIR. Near-term improvements are analyzed at a project level of detail based on preliminary engineering analysis in this EIR, and no further environmental analysis under CEQA is anticipated. Longer-term improvements are analyzed at a programmatic, more conceptual level of detail in this EIR because only conceptual engineering has been completed at this time. Subsequent environmental documentation will be required for the longer-term improvements once further engineering and project definition is completed.

3 Page 3 of 12 The EIR analyzes a full build suite of potential improvements that may ultimately be implemented. However, infrastructure improvements and passenger service can be increased and extended in a phased approach over time. Thus, the development of physical improvements and expanded service should be seen as a range over time. Minimal improvements Addition of station, parking and key track/infrastructure improvements and commencement of initial service or expansion of existing trains (one or more trains) Interim improvements Construction of track improvements, such as double-tracking, at specific areas of train congestion, and possibly additional parking improvements necessary per ridership, which would allow further expansion of service beyond the initial service or expansion Full build Completion of all proposed improvements along existing and new corridors Overview of Near-Term Improvements In the near term, ACEforward proposes improvements, which could be implemented as early as 2019, necessary to support ACE service of up to six daily roundtrips between San Jose and the San Joaquin Valley, a potential reroute of ACE service through downtown Tracy, and the extension of ACE service to Modesto. The timing of improvements will depend on the time necessary to obtain all necessary permits and approvals and the construction duration for the specific improvements selected. The project-level analysis of the near-term improvements in this EIR will allow the selected improvements to proceed with permitting, final design, and construction. It is possible that there will be a phased implementation of near-term improvements. For example, given the recent approval of funding from Senate Bill 1 (2017), the extension of service to Modesto may be able to be advanced in the near term once appropriate station improvements and any critical track/infrastructure improvements are made. ACEforward s near-term improvements generally entail the following four types of improvements. Operating and passenger facilities improvements required to support the increased ACE service proposed in the near term (San Jose to Fremont, Tri-Valley, Lathrop to Stockton segments) Track improvements to relieve rail network congestion and expand rail capacity at existing or future congestion points (Centerville/Niles/Sunol and Altamont segments) 2 Potential reroute of ACE service through downtown Tracy with new potential stations west of Tracy, in downtown Tracy, and in the Lathrop/Manteca areas (Tracy to Lathrop segment) 2 Freight transport between Niles Canyon and Oakland presently utilizes the Niles Subdivision from Niles Junction in Fremont to Newark Junction in Newark and then the Coast Subdivision northward to Oakland. Track connections in the Centerville/Niles/Sunol segment for some ACEforward alternatives include potential connections that would allow freight rail to utilize the Niles Subdivision between Niles Junction in Fremont and Elmhurst in Oakland or the Oakland Subdivision between Niles Junction in Fremont and Industrial Parkway in Hayward (and then the Niles Subdivision from Industrial Parkway to Elmhurst in Oakland). If such alternatives were implemented, this would likely increase freight operations on the new routes and lower freight operations on the existing routes as the alternative routes are shorter and more direct between Niles Canyon and Oakland than the existing route via the Coast Subdivision.

4 Page 4 of 12 Extension of ACE service to Modesto and new stations in downtown Manteca, Ripon and Modesto (Manteca to Modesto segment) Table 1 provides a list of alternatives considered in each geographic segment, and notes which alternative(s) could be selected for implementation within each segment. Table 1. List of ACEforward Near-Term Improvements by Segment Code San Jose to Fremont SJF-1 SJF-2 Tamien layover facility improvements Fremont Station improvements Title of Near-Term Alternative Near-term Alternatives SJF-1 and SJF-2 in the San Jose to Fremont segment would be implemented. Centerville/Niles/Sunol CNS-1a CNS-1b CNS-1c CNS-2a CNS-2b Alameda Creek Bridge, Sunol double track, and Hearst siding extension with and without Centerville line expansion Centerville line expansion, Sunol double track, and Hearst siding extension Oakland-Niles Subdivision connection at Industrial Parkway and track upgrades, Sunol double track, and Hearst siding extension Niles Canyon Railway upgrades and northern connection Niles Canyon Railway upgrades, southern connection, and Sunol double track Only one near-term alternative in the Centerville/Niles/Sunol segment would be implemented. Tri-Valley TV-1 Pleasanton Station improvements TV-2 Vasco Road Station improvements (variants 1 and 2) Near-term Alternatives TV-1 and TV-2 in the Tri-Valley segment would be implemented. Altamont A-1 Altamont track realignment and siding extension Near-term Alternative A-1 in the Altamont segment would be implemented. Tracy to Lathrop Alignment options TL-1 TL-2a TL-2b TL-3 TL-4a TL-4b Station options Existing alignment Downtown alignment with Midway crossover Downtown alignment with Lammers crossover Existing alignment with Lyoth-Banta crossover to River Islands Downtown alignment with Midway crossover and State Route 120 crossover Downtown alignment with Lammers crossover and State Route 120 crossover -- West Tracy Station A-1 -- West Tracy Station A-2 -- West Tracy Station A-3

5 Page 5 of 12 Code Tracy to Lathrop, continued Station options, continued -- West Tracy Station A-4 -- West Tracy Station A-5 -- West Tracy Station B-1 -- West Tracy Station B-2 -- Existing Tracy Station Title of Near-Term Alternative -- Downtown Tracy Station (variants 1, 2, and 3) -- River Islands Station -- Relocated Lathrop/Manteca Station (variants 1, 2a, and 2b) -- Existing Lathrop/Manteca Station Only one near-term alignment (and corresponding station options for the selected alignment) in the Tracy to Lathrop segment would be implemented. One or two stations may be selected in the west of Tracy and Tracy area, and one station would be selected in Lathrop/Manteca or River Islands area. Lathrop to Stockton LS-1 Stockton Station improvements (variants 1, 2, and 3) One of the variants for the near-term Alternative LS-1 in the Lathrop to Stockton segment would be implemented. Manteca to Modesto MMO-1a MMO-1b Extension to Modesto with existing Tracy-Fresno Subdivision connection Extension to Modesto with Oakland-Fresno Subdivision connection Only one near-term alternative in the Manteca to Modesto segment would be selected for implementation. It is also possible that no extension to Modesto would be implemented. In the near term, SJRRC proposes to increase ACE service to six daily roundtrips. There are two operational scenarios in the near term, which are dependent on whether the service extension to Modesto (Alternatives MMO-1a and MMO-1b) is pursued. If the service extension to Modesto is pursued, the six daily roundtrips in the near term would consist of the following split-service scenario. In the morning period, four westbound trains from Stockton to San Jose and two westbound trains from Modesto to San Jose. In the evening period, four eastbound trains from San Jose to Stockton and two eastbound trains from San Jose to Modesto. This is only one combination of split service. It is possible that service to Modesto could start with only one roundtrip train with only station and some key track/infrastructure improvements and then service levels increase over time with capacity improvements. If the service extension to Modesto is not pursued, the six daily roundtrips in the near term would remain in the existing ACE corridor and consist of the following scenario.

6 Page 6 of 12 In the morning period, six westbound trains from Stockton to San Jose. In the evening period, six eastbound trains from San Jose to Stockton. Overview of Longer-Term Improvements In the longer term, ACEforward proposes a suite of improvements that would ultimately support ACE service of up to 10 daily roundtrips between San Jose and the San Joaquin Valley, a train-to-train ACE/BART connection, and the extension of ACE service to Ceres, Turlock and Merced. The programmatic analysis of the longer-term improvements in this EIR will allow subsequent project-level clearance of individual longer-term improvements. This will allow prioritization and phasing of longer-term improvements. For example, given the recent approval of funding from Senate Bill 1 (2017), the extension of service to Ceres could be cleared through a focused project-level environmental document following certification of this EIR. ACEforward s longer-term improvements generally entail the following four types of improvements. Operating and passenger facilities improvements required to support increased ACE service in the longer term (San Jose to Fremont, Tri-Valley, Tracy to Lathrop, Lathrop to Stockton, and Manteca to Modesto segments) Track improvements to relieve rail network congestion and expand rail capacity at existing or future congestion points (San Jose to Fremont and Altamont segments) Establish an ACE and BART train-to-train connection (Centerville to Union City and Tri-Valley segments) Extension of ACE service to Merced and new stations in Ceres, Turlock, Livingston or Atwater, and Merced (Modesto to Merced segment) Table 2 provides a comprehensive list of alternatives considered in each geographic segment, and notes which alternative(s) could be selected for implementation within each segment. Table 2. List of ACEforward Longer-Term Improvements Code San Jose to Fremont P-SJF-1 P-SJF-2a P-SJF-2b P-SJF-2c P-SJF-2d P-SJF-3 Tamien layover facility improvements Title of Longer-Term Alternative Santa Clara to Newark double track, Alviso Baylands crossing on expanded berm Santa Clara to Newark double track, Alviso Baylands crossing on raised berm Santa Clara to Newark double track, Alviso Baylands crossing on double trestle Santa Clara to Newark double track, Alviso Baylands crossing on raised berm and double trestle Fremont Station improvements Longer-term Alternatives P-SJF-1 and P-SJF-3 in the San Jose to Fremont segment would be implemented. Only one longer-term Santa Clara to Newark double track alternative would be implemented.

7 Page 7 of 12 Code Centerville to Union City P-UC-1a P-UC-1b P-UC-2a P-UC-2b ACE to Union City Title of Longer-Term Alternative ACE to Union City with Centerville line expansion DMU to Union City DMU to Union City with Centerville line expansion Only one longer-term alternative in the Centerville to Union City segment would be implemented. It is also possible that no alternative would be implemented in this segment. Tri-Valley Alignment options P-TV-1a P-TV-1b P-TV-1c P-TV-1d P-TV-2a P-TV-2b P-TV-2c P-TV-2d P-BART-1 P-BART-2 P-BART-3 ACE to BART Isabel Avenue at grade ACE to BART Isabel Avenue on elevated structure DMU/EMU to BART Isabel Avenue Bus shuttle from ACE Livermore to BART Isabel Avenue ACE to BART Dublin/Pleasanton at grade ACE to BART Dublin/Pleasanton on elevated structure DMU/EMU to BART Dublin/Pleasanton Existing bus shuttle from ACE Pleasanton to BART West Dublin/Pleasanton BART to Greenville and ACE Greenville Road (three variants for ACE/BART Greenville Road Station) BART to ACE Livermore intermodal and ACE Vasco Road BART to ACE Livermore and ACE Vasco Road intermodal Standard rail track connection options (for Alternatives P-TV-1a, P-TV-1b, P-TV-2a, and P-TV-2b) -- Connection from existing alignment -- Connection from Altamont Tunnel -- Connection from Long Tunnel ACE and DMU/EMU Greenville Road station options (for Alternatives P-TV-1c and P-TV-2c) -- Facilities with existing alignment -- Facilities with Altamont Tunnel or Long Tunnel Existing station improvements P-TV-3 P-TV-4 P-TV-5 Pleasanton Station improvements Livermore Station improvements Vasco Road Station improvements Longer-term Alternatives P-TV-3, P-TV-4, and P-TV-5 in the Tri-Valley would be implemented. Only one longer-term BART connection alignment (and corresponding standard rail connection or ACE and DMU/EMU station options for the selected alignment) in the Tri-Valley segment would be implemented.

8 Page 8 of 12 Code Altamont P-A-1 P-A-2 P-A-3 Altamont Tunnel Top Tunnel Long Tunnel Title of Longer-Term Alternative Only one longer-term alternative in the Altamont segment would be implemented. It is also possible that no alternative would be implemented in this segment; in this case, the existing alignment through Altamont would be utilized and other means for time savings would be implemented. Tracy to Lathrop P-TL-A1 P-TL-A2 P-TL-A3 P-TL-A4 P-TL-A5 P-TL-B1 P-TL-B2 P-TL-ET West Tracy Station A-1 improvements West Tracy Station A-2 improvements West Tracy Station A-3 improvements West Tracy Station A-4 improvements West Tracy Station A-5 improvements West Tracy Station B-1 improvements West Tracy Station B-2 improvements Existing Tracy Station improvements P-TL-DT Downtown Tracy Station improvements (variants 1, 2, and 3) P-TL-RI River Islands Station improvements P-TL-RLM Relocated Lathrop/Manteca Station improvements (variants 2a and 2b) P-TL-ELM Existing Lathrop/Manteca Station improvements The longer-term alternatives selected for implementation in the Tracy to Lathrop segment would depend on the stations selected for near-term implementation. Longer-term improvements would be implemented at the stations implemented in the near-term. Lathrop to Stockton P-LS-1 Stockton Station improvements (variants 1, 2, and 3) Longer-term Alternative P-LS-1 in the Lathrop to Stockton segment would be implemented. Manteca to Modesto P-MMO-MAN P-MMO-RIP P-MMO-MOD Manteca Station improvements Ripon Station improvements Modesto Station improvements Alternatives P-MMO-MAN, P-MMO-RIP, and P-MM0-MOD in the Manteca to Modesto segment would be implemented if the extension to Modesto is selected for near-term implementation. Modesto to Merced P-MME-1a P-MME-1b Extension to Merced with Livingston Station (includes Ceres, Turlock, and Merced stations) Extension to Merced with Atwater Station (includes Ceres, Turlock, and Merced stations) Only one longer-term alternative in the Modesto to Merced segment would be selected for implementation. It is also possible that no extension to Merced would be implemented.

9 Page 9 of 12 In the longer term, SJRRC proposes to increase ACE service to ten daily roundtrips and weekend/holiday service. 3 There are two operational scenarios in the longer term, which are dependent on whether the service extension to Merced (Alternatives P-MME-1a and P-MME-1b) is pursued. If the service extension to Merced is pursued, the ten daily roundtrips in the longer term could consist of the following split-service scenario. In the morning period, four westbound trains from Stockton to San Jose and six westbound trains from Merced to San Jose. In the evening period, four eastbound trains from San Jose to Stockton and six eastbound trains from San Jose to Merced. This is only one example of split service. Other combinations could include six trains from Stockton and four from Merced or eight trains from Stockton and two from Merced. Service levels would depend on demand and the phased implementation of necessary improvements. Service levels to Ceres, Turlock, or Merced could also commence initially with one or two daily roundtrips and then increase in service over time. If the service extension to Merced is not pursued, the ten daily roundtrips in the longer term would remain in the existing ACE corridor and consist of the following scenario. In the morning period, ten westbound trains from Stockton to San Jose. In the evening period, ten eastbound trains from San Jose to Stockton. C. Potential Environmental Impacts ACEforward s near-term and longer-term improvements would result in overall regional benefits in terms of reducing regional traffic, improving regional transportation connections, improving operational air quality (all but two criteria pollutants would be reduced), and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. ACEforward would result in significant impacts to aesthetics (changes in visual character due to highly visible features, and new sources of light/glare,), biological resources (construction and operation in biologically sensitive areas with wetlands, suitable habitat for special-status species, and native residential, migratory fish, or wildlife species movement; and cumulatively, depending on the alternatives ultimately implemented), cultural resources (built historic resources), land use and planning (conflict with local land use plans for the purposes of avoiding or mitigating environmental effects; and cumulatively, depending on the alternatives ultimately implemented), noise (nighttime construction, operation due to new train routes and increased rail traffic, and cumulatively), population and housing (induce population growth at proposed station locations outside of areas in which population growth), and localized traffic (in 2020 and cumulatively). ACEforward would result in less than significant impacts with mitigation to other resource areas: aesthetics (construction), agricultural resources (construction), air quality (operation and construction); cultural resources (construction for archeological resources and human remains); geology and soils (construction for paleontological resources); hazards and hazardous materials (construction and operation), hydrology 3 ACE service on weekends and holidays could include up to six roundtrips per day.

10 Page 10 of 12 and water quality (construction and operation), vibration (construction), population and housing (construction), recreation (construction), safety and security (construction), transportation and traffic (construction traffic, transit service, station access, pedestrian facilities, bicycle facilities, and freight rail service), utilities and service systems (construction). Some of the near-term and longer-term improvements are located on sites included on a hazardous materials/contaminated sites list (Cortese list) compiled pursuant to Government Code Section D. Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Report Copies of the draft EIR and the documents referenced in the draft EIR will be available for review at the following location during normal working hours: SJRRC offices at 949 East Channel Street, Stockton Copies of the draft EIR are also available for review at the following locations: ACEforward website at: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, 150 East San Fernando Street, San Jose Rose Garden Branch Library, 1580 Naglee Avenue, San Jose Mission Library Family Reading Center, 1098 Lexington Street, Santa Clara Northside Branch Library, 695 Moreland Way, Santa Clara Alviso Branch Library, 5050 North 1 st Street, San Jose Newark Library, 6300 Civic Terrace Avenue, Newark Fremont Main Library, 2400 Stevenson Boulevard, Fremont Union City Library, Alvarado-Niles Boulevard, Union City Niles Library, 150 I Street, Fremont Hayward Public Library, 835 C Street, Hayward Oakland Public Library MLK Jr. Branch, 6833 International Boulevard, Oakland Pleasanton Public Library, 400 Old Bernal Avenue, Pleasanton Livermore Public Library Central Library, 1188 South Livermore Avenue, Livermore Springtown Branch Library, 998 Bluebell Drive, Livermore Mountain House Branch Library, 250 Main Street, Mountain House Tracy Branch Library, 20 East Eaton Avenue, Tracy Lathrop Branch Library, 450 Spartan Way, Lathrop Cesar Chavez Central Library, 605 North El Dorado Street, Stockton

11 Page 11 of 12 Manteca Public Library, 320 West Center Street, Manteca Friends of the Ripon Memorial Library, 333 West Main Street, Ripon Stanislaus County Library, 1500 I Street, Modesto Ceres Public Library, 2250 Magnolia Street, Ceres Turlock Public Library, 550 North Minaret Avenue, Turlock Livingston Library, 1212 Main Street, Livingston Atwater Branch Library, 1600 Third Street, Atwater Merced County Library, 2100 O Street, Merced E. Open Houses SJRRC will hold six open houses to receive comments on the draft EIR. Written comments may be made on comment cards that will be provided at open houses. Open houses will be held at the following dates and locations: Santa Clara Senior Center Room Fremont Street Santa Clara, CA Monday, June 19, 2017, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Fremont Main Library Fukaya Room 2450 Stevenson Boulevard Fremont, CA Wednesday, June 21, 2017, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Robert Livermore Community Center Palo Verde Room 4444 East Avenue Livermore, CA Tuesday, June 20, 2017, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tracy City Hall 333 Civic Center Plaza Tracy, CA Thursday, June 29, 2017, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

12 Page 12 of 12 Modesto Centre Plaza Pistache Room 1000 L Street Modesto, CA Wednesday, June 28, 2017, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. City of Merced City Hall Sam Pipes Meeting Room 678 West 18 th Street Merced, CA Tuesday, June 27, 2017, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. F. Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Report A 60-day public and agency review period pursuant to Section of the State CEQA Guidelines is scheduled from Wednesday, to Monday, July 31, Comments may be made on comment cards provided at open houses or submitted in writing by regular mail or . Please send comments submitted in writing to: San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission Attn: ACEforward Draft EIR 949 East Channel Street Stockton, CA ACEforwardEIR@acerail.com Comments on the draft EIR must be received by the end of the review period, which is Monday, July 31, 2017 at 5:00 PM.