Coast Corridor Improvements

Record of Decision (ROD) 

and Final Program 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/

Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

From Salinas, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA

SCH# 2012081045

Prepared by the 

U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal Railroad Administration

and the 

San Luis Obispo Council of Governments

In Cooperation with the 

Transportation Agency for Monterey County

and the

California Department of Transportation 

Division of Rail and Mass Transportation 

November 2015
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General Information About This Document

What’s in this document?

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG), and 

the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) have prepared this Final Program 

Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (Final Program EIS/EIR), analyzing the 

potential environmental impacts of alternatives for physical and service improvements that would 

extend over the existing 130 miles of railroad between Salinas, California and San Luis Obispo, California. 

The project is located in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, California. The Final Program EIS/EIR 

describes why the project is being proposed, the existing environment that could be affected by the 

project, the potential impacts, and avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation strategies. 

The Draft Program EIS/EIR was published and circulated for public review for 55 days from November 

14, 2014, to January 7, 2015. Four public hearings occurred along the Coast Corridor during the public 

review period. SLOCOG and FRA addressed all substantive comments received on the Draft Program 

EIS/EIR in this Final Program EIS/EIR. 

FRA has identified the Build Alternative with modifications as the Preferred Alternative for potential 

future rail improvements on the Coast Corridor between Salinas and San Luis Obispo. The Preferred 

Alternative is the same as the Build Alternative analyzed in the Draft Program EIS/EIR with the 

modifications listed below. These modifications are described in greater detail in Chapter 2.0, 

Alternatives and are adopted in the Final Program EIS/EIR based on comments received from local 

governments and the public. In general, the modifications will reduce the potential impacts of the 

project and can be categorized as follows: 

 Changes requested by the City of King to siding extension and station area 

 Exclusion of four curve realignments in San Luis Obispo County 

 Inclusion of “island” CTC between McKay and Santa Margarita

This document also includes FRA’s Record of Decision (ROD) for the project. In the ROD, FRA selects its 

Preferred Alternative, which is the Build Alternative with modifications as described above. FRA’s ROD 

signifies completion of the programmatic NEPA review for the project. 

For CEQA compliance, this document will serve as a Final Program EIR and will be available to 

individuals, elected officials, and agencies that commented on the Draft Program EIS/EIR for 30 days. 

Following this period, if SLOCOG decides to certify the environmental document and approve the 

Preferred Alternative, SLOCOG will publish a Notice of Determination. 

Copies of the Final Program EIS/EIR will be available at www.slocog.org and the following locations: 

San Luis Obispo Council of Governments Office

1114 Marsh Street 

San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

805-781-4219

Transportation Agency for Monterey County

55-B Plaza Circle

Salinas, CA 93901

831-775-0903

Copies of the document will also be available at several public libraries along the Coast Corridor. Refer 

to Chapter 5.0, Comments and Coordination, for a list of locations. 
What happens next? 

This is a programmatic environmental review that considers a comprehensive list of potential physical 

rail improvements, in addition to increased passenger rail service. Discussions and negotiations 

between SLOCOG, TAMC, FRA, other agencies, and the railroad owner (Union Pacific Railroad) will 

determine which physical improvements are carried forward. Further design refinements will also be 

necessary to inform any required project-level environmental reviews. Only after such further design 

and environmental reviews could construction proceed. 

 For individuals with sensory disabilities, this document can be made available in Braille, large print, on 

audiocassette, or computer disk. To obtain a copy in one of these alternate formats, please call or write to 

Caltrans, Attn: Joe Valdez, Division of Rail and Mass Transportation, P.O. Box 942873, MS 74, Sacramento, CA, 

94273-0001; (916) 654-7188, or use the California Relay Service TTY number, dial 711. 

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i 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RECORD OF DECISION .............................................................................................................. 1 

1.0 Summary ................................................................................................................... 1 

2.0 Decision ..................................................................................................................... 2 

3.0 Project Introduction .................................................................................................. 3 

4.0 NEPA Process ............................................................................................................ 5 

5.0 Alternatives Considered............................................................................................ 6 

6.0 Summary of Potential Beneficial Effects ................................................................. 16

7.0 Summary of Potential Adverse Effects ...................................................................17

8.0 Summary of Avoidance, Minimization, and Mitigation Strategies and Design 

Practices ..................................................................................................................19

9.0 Compliance with Other Federal Regulations ..........................................................19

10.0 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................21

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................... S-1 

1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED ................................................................................................. 1-1 

1.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................1-1 

1.2 Purpose and Need For Improved Intercity Rail Transportation Between Salinas 

and San Luis Obispo ...............................................................................................1-4 

1.3 Anticipated Environmental Tiering ........................................................................1-8 

1.4 Relationship to California High-speed Rail...........................................................1-10

1.5 Issues Raised During Scoping ...............................................................................1-10

2.0 ALTERNATIVES .......................................................................................................... 2-1 

2.1 Background and Planning ......................................................................... 2-2

2.2 Alternatives ................................................................................................ 2-4

3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES, AND MITIGATION 

STRATEGIES .............................................................................................................. 3-1 

3.1 Traffic and Travel ............................................................................................... 3.1-1 

3.2 Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions ....................................................... 3.2-1 

3.3 Noise and Vibration ........................................................................................... 3.3-1 

3.4 Energy ................................................................................................................ 3.4-1 
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Table of Contents Final Program EIS/EIR 

ii

3.5 Land Use and Planning, Communities and Neighborhoods, Property and 

Environmental Justice ........................................................................................ 3.5-1 

3.6 Aesthetics and Visual Resources ........................................................................ 3.6-1 

3.7 Agricultural and Forest Resources ..................................................................... 3.7-1 

3.8 Public Utilities and Services ............................................................................... 3.8-1 

3.9 Hazardous Materials and Wastes ...................................................................... 3.9-1 

3.10 Cultural and Paleontological Resources .......................................................... 3.10-1 

3.11 Geology, Soils, and Minerals ............................................................................ 3.11-1 

3.12 Hydrology and Water Resources ..................................................................... 3.12-1 

3.13 Biological Resources and Wetlands ................................................................. 3.13-1 

3.14 Growth Inducement ......................................................................................... 3.14-1 

3.15 Cumulative Impacts Evaluation ....................................................................... 3.15-1 

3.16 Next Steps in Project Development ................................................................. 3.16-1 

3.17 Unavoidable Adverse Environmental Impacts/CEQA Conclusions .................. 3.17-1 

4.0 FINAL PROGRAMMATIC SECTION 4(F)/6(F) EVALUATION ........................................... 4-1 

4.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................4-1 

4.2 Coordination ..........................................................................................................4-7 

4.3 Purpose and Need .................................................................................................4-9 

4.4 Alternatives ............................................................................................................4-9 

4.5 Section 4(f)/6(f) Properties (Parks, Wildlife Refuges, and Historic Sites) ............4-16

4.6 Preliminary 4(f) Use Assessment .........................................................................4-20

4.7 Preliminary Section 4(f) Finding ...........................................................................4-31

4.8 Preliminary Section 6(f) Finding ...........................................................................4-33

5.0 COMMENTS AND COORDINATION ............................................................................. 5-1 

5.1 Scoping Process .....................................................................................................5-1 

5.2 Other Scoping Meeting Notification ......................................................................5-2 

5.3 Formal Comment Summary ...................................................................................5-2 

5.4 Stakeholder Outreach ............................................................................................5-4 

5.5 Tribal Outreach ......................................................................................................5-6 

5.6 Other Agency Outreach .........................................................................................5-7 

5.7 Draft Program EIS/EIR Distribution List .................................................................5-7 

5.8 Response to Comments on the Draft Program EIS/EIR .......................................5-10

6.0 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................. 6-1 

7.0 LIST OF PREPARERS ................................................................................................... 7-1 
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Final Program EIS/EIR Table of Contents 

iii

LIST OF APPENDICES 

Appendix A Scoping Summary 

Appendix B Union Pacific Railroad Recommendations 

Appendix C Coast Corridor Service Development Plan 

Appendix D Compendium of Spatial Data

Appendix 1 Technical Data for City of King Improvements 

Appendix 2 Public Comments on the Draft Program EIS/EIR 
Coast Corridor 

Table of Contents Final Program EIS/EIR 

iv

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 Project Location Map .........................................................................................43

Figure 1-1 Coast Corridor .................................................................................................1-13

Figure 1-2 State Passenger Rail System ...........................................................................1-14

Figure 2-1 Project Location Map ......................................................................................2-22

Figure 2-2 Section of Rail .................................................................................................2-23

Figure 2-3 Typical Signal Tower........................................................................................2-24

Figure 2-4 Typical Powered Switch ..................................................................................2-25

Figure 2-5 Siding Extension Diagram ...............................................................................2-26

Figure 2-6 Curve Realignment Diagram ...........................................................................2-27

Figure 3.2-1 Regional Air Basins ...................................................................................... 3.2-24

Figure 3.3-1 Examples of Typical Outdoor Noise Exposure ............................................ 3.3-31

Figure 3.3-2 Typical Ground-Borne Vibration Levels and Criteria .................................. 3.3-32

Figure 3.5-1a-h Generalized Existing Land Uses................................................................... 3.5-33

Figure 3.5-2a-h Environmental Justice Communities .......................................................... 3.5-34

Figure 3.6-1 Existing Landscape Type: Agricultural ......................................................... 3.6-20

Figure 3.6-2 Existing Landscape Type: Urban/Suburban ................................................ 3.6-21

Figure 3.6-3 Existing Landscape Type:Industrial/Institutional ........................................ 3.6-22

Figure 3.6-4 Existing Landscape Type: Open Space/Undeveloped ................................. 3.6-23

Figure 3.6-5 Monterey County Visual Resource Areas ................................................... 3.6-24

Figure 3.6-6 San Luis Obispo County Visual Resource Areas .......................................... 3.6-25

Figure 3.6-7 Centralized Traffic Control .......................................................................... 3.6-26

Figure 3.7-1a-f Important Farmland in Monterey County .................................................. 3.7-21

Figure 3.7-2a-c Important Farmland in San Luis Obispo County ......................................... 3.7-22

Figure 3.10-1 Monterey County Archaeological Sensitivity ............................................ 3.10-31

Figure 3.11-1 Active Fault Zones in Monterey County.................................................... 3.11-25

Figure 3.11-2 Active Fault Zones in San Luis Obispo County .......................................... 3.11-26

Figure 3.11-3 Monterey County Liquefaction Potential ................................................. 3.11-27 

Figure 3.11-4a-c San Luis Obispo Liquefaction Potential ..................................................... 3.11-28

Figure 3.11-5 Monterey County Landslide Potential ...................................................... 3.11-29

Figure 3.12-1a-h Surface Waters in the Study Area ............................................................. 3.12-25

Figure 3.12-2 Groundwater Resources in the Project Area ............................................ 3.12-33

Figure 3.12-3a-h Special Flood Hazard Areas ....................................................................... 3.12-34

Figure 3.13-1a-i Sensitive Vegetation Communities ........................................................... 3.13-61

Figure 3.13-2a-i Critical Habitat .......................................................................................... 3.13-62

Figure 3.13-3a-i Wetlands and Jurisdictional Waters ......................................................... 3.13-63

Figure 4-1 Clean Air Act Designated Class 1 Areas ...........................................................4-34

Figure 4-2 Section 4(f) Properties ....................................................................................4-35
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Final Program EIS/EIR Table of Contents 

v 

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 Summary of Build Alternative Proposed Components – Corridor-Wide ................. 8 

Table 2 Summary of Build Alternative Proposed Components – Site Specific ...................... 8 

Table 3 Avoidance, Minimization, and Mitigation Strategies .............................................23

Table S-1 Comparative Effects, Build Alternatives versus No Build Alternative ................... S-9 

Table 1-1 Public Scoping Meetings ......................................................................................1-11

Table 2-1 Existing At-Grade Crossings of Public, Paved Roads between Salinas and 

San Luis Obispo Stations ......................................................................................2-12

Table 2-2 Summary of Build Alternative Proposed Components – Corridor-Wide ............2-14

Table 2-3 Summary of Build Alternative Proposed Components – Site Specific .................2-14

Table 2-4 Potential Maximum Speed Increases for Build Alternative Components ...........2-16

Table 3.1-1 Coast Corridor Passenger Station Ridership, 2012 ............................................ 3.1-5 

Table 3.1-2 Traffic and Vehicle Data for US 101 (2012)........................................................ 3.1-7 

Table 3.1-3 Summary of Existing Paved Public Road At-Grade Crossings ............................ 3.1-8 

Table 3.1-4 Existing and Projected Station Arrivals for 2020 ............................................. 3.1-14

Table 3.1-5 Existing and Projected Station Arrivals for 2040 ............................................. 3.1-14

Table 3.1-6 Existing, 2020, and 2040 Ridership Forecasts .................................................. 3.1-17

Table 3.2-1 General Conformity De Minimis Thresholds ..................................................... 3.2-3 

Table 3.2-2 Ambient Air Quality Standards ........................................................................ 3.2-11

Table 3.3-1 Noise Screening Distances ................................................................................. 3.3-7 

Table 3.3-2 Vibration Screening Distances ........................................................................... 3.3-9 

Table 3.3-3 Typical Construction Equipment Noise Levels ................................................. 3.3-14

Table 3.3-4 Noise Compatibility of Build Alternative ......................................................... 3.3-15

Table 3.3-5 Vibration Compatibility of Build Alternative.................................................... 3.3-20

Table 3.3-6 Noise Compatibility of Preferred Alternative .................................................. 3.3-26

Table 3.3-7 Vibration Compatibility of Preferred Alternative ............................................ 3.3-27

Table 3.4-1 Construction-Related Energy Consumption Factors .......................................... 3.4-4 

Table 3.4-2 2020 and 2040 Annual forecasts for Coast Daylight Service Options ............... 3.4-7 

Table 3.4-3 Passenger Travel and Energy Use, 2011 ............................................................ 3.4-8 

Table 3.5-1 Compatibility of Land Use Types ....................................................................... 3.5-9 

Table 3.5-2 Rankings of Potential Property Impacts ............................................................ 3.5-9 

Table 3.5-3 Build Alternative: Potential Impacts to Land Use, Property, and 

Environmental Justice ...................................................................................... 3.5-20

Table 3.5-4 Preferred Alternative: Potential Impacts to Land Use, Property, and 

Environmental Justice ...................................................................................... 3.5-28

Table 3.6-1 Potential Visual Impacts .................................................................................. 3.6-15

Table 3.7-1 Build Alternative: Construction-Period Effects of Project Components to 

Farmlands (in acres) ......................................................................................... 3.7-10

Table 3.7-2 Build Alternative: Operational Effects of Project Improvements to Farmlands 

(in acres) .......................................................................................................... 3.7-14
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Table of Contents Final Program EIS/EIR 

vi

Table 3.7-3 Preferred Alternative: Construction-Period Effects of Project Components to 

Farmlands (in acres) ......................................................................................... 3.7-18

Table 3.8-1 Potential Utility Impacts - No Build, Build, and Preferred Alternatives ........... 3.8-17

Table 3.9-1 Hazardous Sites and Materials in the Coast Corridor ........................................ 3.9-9 

Table 3.10-1 Geologic Unit and Paleontological Sensitivity ............................................... 3.10-10

Table 3.10-2 Summary of Potential Impacts to Cultural and Paleontological Resources .. 3.10-25

Table 3.11-1 Types of Potential Impacts from Geologic and Soil Conditions ..................... 3.11-11

Table 3.11-2 Summary of Potential Geologic and Soil Impacts - Build Alternative ............ 3.11-12

Table 3.11-3 Summary of Potential Geologic and Soil Impacts - Preferred Alternative .... 3.11-22

Table 3.12-1 Build Alternative: Potential Proximity Impacts to Surface Waters ................ 3.12-10

Table 3.12-2 Build Alternative: Acreage of Proposed Improvements within 100-Year 

Floodplain ...................................................................................................... 3.12-15

Table 3.12-3 Summary of Changes in Potential Impacts to Hydrology and 

Water Quality ................................................................................................. 3.12-19

Table 3.13-1 Special-Status Plant Species Potentially Occurring in Coast Corridor 

Study Area ...................................................................................................... 3.13-10

Table 3.13-2 Special-Status Wildlife Species Potentially Occurring in Coast Corridor 

Study Area ...................................................................................................... 3.13-23

Table 3.13-3 Build Alternative: Potential Construction-Period Biological Resource 

Impacts........................................................................................................... 3.13-39

Table 3.13-4 Build Alternative: Potential Operational Biological Resources Impacts ........ 3.13-48

Table 3.13-5 Preferred Alternative: New Potential Construction-Period Biological 

Resource Impacts ........................................................................................... 3.13-54

Table 3.13-6 Preferred Alternative: New Potential Operational Biological Resource 

Impacts........................................................................................................... 3.13-55

Table 3.15-1 Planned and Programmed Transportation Improvements, Monterey and 

San Luis Obispo Counties ................................................................................. 3.15-4 

Table 4-1 Section 4(f) and 6(f) Evaluation Consultation Summary ........................................4-8 

Table 4-2 Summary of Potential Impacts to Section 4(f) Resources – Preferred 

Alternative ...........................................................................................................4-24

Table 5-1 Scoping Meetings ...................................................................................................5-1 

Table 5-2 August 28th – Salinas .............................................................................................5-3 

Table 5-3 August 29th – San Luis Obispo ...............................................................................5-3 

Table 5-4 Index of Master Responses ..................................................................................5-11

Table 5-5 Index of Comments ..............................................................................................5-18

Table 7-1 List of Preparers of the Program EIS/EIR ...............................................................7-1 
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Final Program EIS/EIR Table of Contents 

vii

LIST OF ACRONYMS

AB – Assembly Bill 

ABS – Automatic Block System 

ARB – Air Resources Board 

ARRA – American Recovery and 

Reinvestment Act 

Authority – California High-Speed Rail 

Authority 

CAA – Clean Air Act 

CAFE – Corporate Average Fuel Economy 

CA HSR – California High-Speed Rail 

Caltrain – Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers 

Board 

Caltrans – California Department of 

Transportation 

CDFW – California Department of Fish and 

Wildlife 

CEC – California Energy Commission 

CEQ – Council on Environmental Quality 

CEQA - California Environmental Quality Act 

CNEL – community noise equivalent level 

CO – carbon monoxide 

CPUC – California Public Utilities 

Commission 

CRCC – Coast Rail Coordinating Council 

CSRP – California State Rail Plan 

CTC – Centralized Traffic Control 

CWR – continuous welded rail 

dB - decibels 

DOR – Caltrans Division of Rail and Mass 

Transportation 

DPM – diesel particulate matter 

EIS/EIR – Environmental Impact 

Statement/Environmental Impact Report 

FAA – Federal Aviation Administration 

FERC – Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission 

FHWA – Federal Highway Administration 

FRA – Federal Railroad Administration 

FTA – Federal Transit Administration 

FTI – Freight Train Interference 

GHG – greenhouse gas 

GIS – geographic information system 

HC - hydrocarbons 

HSC – Health and Safety Code 

I-5 – Interstate 5 

JPA – Joint Powers Authority 

LOSSAN – Los Angeles—San Diego—San 

Luis Obispo 

LOSSAN North – San Luis Obispo—Los 

Angeles Rail Corridor 

LOSSAN South – Los Angeles—San Diego 

Rail Corridor 

MP – mile post 

MBUAPCD – Monterey Bay Unified Air 

Pollution Control District 

MSAT – mobile source air toxics 

NAAC – Native American Advisory 

Committee 

NAAQS – National Ambient Air Quality 

Standards 
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Table of Contents Final Program EIS/EIR 

viii

NAICS – North American Industry 

Classification System 

NEPA -- National Environmental Policy Act 

NO2 – Nitrogen Dioxide 

NOI – Notice of Intent 

NRCS – National Resource Conservation 

Service 

O3 - ozone 

OTP – on-time performance 

Pb – lead 

PM10 – Respirable Particulate Matter 

PM2.5 – Fine Particulate Matter 

PTC – Positive Train Control 

PTI – Passenger Train Interference 

RailOPS – ridership projections and 

operations modeling 

ROW – right-of-way 

RTC – Rail Traffic Controller 

RTIP – Regional Transportation 

Improvement Plans 

RTPA – Regional Transportation Planning 

Agency 

RTP – Regional Transportation Plans 

RWCQB – Regional Water Quality Control 

Board 

VMT – Vehicle Miles Traveled 

SDP – Service Development Plan 

SIP – State Implementation Plan 

SLOCOG – San Luis Obispo Council of 

Governments 

SLORTA – San Luis Obispo Regional Transit 

Authority 

SLOAPCD – San Luis Obispo Air Pollution 

Control District 

SR – State Route 

STB – Surface Transportation Board 

STIP – State Transportation Improvement 

Program 

TAC – toxic air contaminant 

TAMC – Transportation Agency for 

Monterey County 

TAZ – transportation analysis zones 

TOD – Transit Oriented Development 

TSM – Transportation System Management 

TWC – Train Warrant Control 

US – United States 

US 101 – US Highway 101 

USACE – US Army Corps of Engineers 

US EPA – US Environmental Protection 

Agency 

UPRR – Union Pacific Railroad 

USC – US Code 

USDA – US Department of Agriculture 

USDOT – US Department of Transportation 

USFS – US Forest Service 

USFWS – US Fish and Wildlife Service