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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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 

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

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

4.2 Coordination ..........................................................................................................4-8 

4.3 Purpose and need ..................................................................................................4-9 

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

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 

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

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 
Coast Corridor 

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1-1 Coast Corridor .................................................................................................1-12

Figure 1-2 State Passenger Rail System ...........................................................................1-13

Figure 2-1 Project Location Map ......................................................................................2-18

Figure 2-2 Section of Rail .................................................................................................2-19

Figure 2-3 Typical Signal Tower........................................................................................2-20

Figure 2-4 Typical Powered Switch ..................................................................................2-21

Figure 2-5 Siding Extension Diagram ...............................................................................2-22

Figure 2-6 Curve Realignment Diagram ...........................................................................2-23

Figure 3.2-1 Regional Air Basins ...................................................................................... 3.2-23

Figure 3.3-1 Examples of Typical Outdoor Noise Exposure ............................................ 3.3-28

Figure 3.3-2 Typical Grounde-Borne Vibration Levels and Criteria ................................ 3.3-29

Figure 3.5-1a-h Generalized Existing Land Uses................................................................... 3.5-27

Figure 3.5-2a-h Environmental Justice Communities .......................................................... 3.5-43

Figure 3.6-1 Existing Landscape Type: Agricultural ......................................................... 3.6-17

Figure 3.6-2 Existing Landscape Type: Urban/Suburban ................................................ 3.6-18

Figure 3.6-3 Existing Landscape Type:Industrial/Institutional ........................................ 3.6-19

Figure 3.6-4 Existing Landscape Type: Open Space/Undeveloped ................................. 3.6-20

Figure 3.6-5 Monterey County Visual Resource Areas ................................................... 3.6-21

Figure 3.6-6 San Luis Obispo County Visual Resource Areas .......................................... 3.6-22

Figure 3.7-1a-f Important Farmland in Monterey County .................................................. 3.7-19

Figure 3.7-2a-c Important Farmland in San Luis Obispo County ......................................... 3.7-31 

Figure 3.10-1 Monterey County Archaeological Sensitivity ............................................ 3.10-24

Figure 3.11-1 Active Fault Zones in Monterey County.................................................... 3.11-22

Figure 3.11-2 Active Fault Zones in San Luis Obispo County .......................................... 3.11-23

Figure 3.11-3 Monterey County Liquefaction Potential ................................................. 3.11-24

Figure 3.11-4a-c San Luis Obispo Liquefaction Potential ..................................................... 3.11-25

Figure 3.11-5 Monterey County Landslide Potential ...................................................... 3.11-31

Figure 3.12-1a-h Surface Waters in the Study Area ............................................................. 3.12-21

Figure 3.12-2 Groundwater Resources in the Project Area ............................................ 3.12-37

Figure 3.12-3a-h Special Flood Hazard Areas ....................................................................... 3.12-39

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

Figure 3.13-2a-i Critical Habitat .......................................................................................... 3.13-79

Figure 3.13-3a-i Wetlands and Jurisdictional Waters ......................................................... 3.13-97

Figure 4-1 Clean Air Act Designated Class 1 Areas ...........................................................4-29

Figure 4-2a-h Section 4(f) Properties ....................................................................................4-31
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LIST OF TABLES 

Table S-1 Comparative Effects, Build Alternative versus No Build Alternative ..................... S-4 

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 Improvements – Corridor-Wide .........2-14

Table 2-3 Summary of Build Alternative Proposed Improvements – 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 ........................................................................ 3.2-12

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

Table 3.3-2 Vibration Screening Distances ........................................................................... 3.3-8 

Table 3.3-3 Typical Construction Equipment Noise Levels ................................................. 3.3-13

Table 3.3-4 Noise Compatibility .......................................................................................... 3.3-14

Table 3.3-5 Vibration Compatibility .................................................................................... 3.3-21

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 ....................................................................... 3.5-8 

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

Table 3.5-3 Potential Impacts to Land Use, Property, and Environmental Justice............. 3.5-19

Table 3.6-1 Potential Visual Impacts .................................................................................. 3.6-13

Table 3.7-1 Construction-Period Effects of Project Improvements to 

Farmlands (in acres) .......................................................................................... 3.7-9 

Table 3.7-2 Operational Effects of Project Improvements to Farmlands (in acres) ........... 3.7-12

Table 3.8-1 Potential Utility Impacts .................................................................................. 3.8-10

Table 3.9-1 Hazardous Sites and Materials in the Coast Corridor ........................................ 3.9-8 

Table 3.10-1 Geologic Unit and Paleontological Sensitivity ................................................. 3.10-9 

Table 3.10-2 Summary of Potential Impacts to Cultural and Paleontological Resources .. 3.10-14

Table 3.11-1 Types of Potential Impacts from Geologic and Soil Conditions ..................... 3.11-10

Table 3.11-2 Summary of Potential Geologic and Soil Impacts .......................................... 3.11-11
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Table 3.12-1 Potential Proximity Impacts to Surface Waters ............................................. 3.12-10

Table 3.12-2 Acreage of Proposed Improvements within 100-Year Floodplain ................. 3.12-14

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

Study Area ........................................................................................................ 3.13-9 

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........................................................................................................... 3.13-40

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

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 ...................................4-17

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 
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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 
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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 

LOSSAN South – Los Angeles—San Diego 

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 

NAICS – North American Industry Classification System 

NEPA -- National Environmental Policy Act 

NO2 – Nitrogen Dioxide 

NOI – Notice of Intent 
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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 
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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 
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