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3.8 PUBLIC UTILITIES AND SERVICES

This section describes existing public utilities and services in the project corridor and

evaluates potential effects of the Build Alternative and No Build Alternative. 

Utilities evaluated in this section include electricity and gas, water, wastewater and 

telecommunications. Emergency services evaluated in this section include police, 

fire, and emergency response. 

3.8.1 REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS

Federal 

Federal Communications Commission

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates interstate and 

international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all 50 

states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The FCC is an independent U.S. 

government agency overseen by Congress, and is the primary authority for 

communications law, regulation, and technological innovation. The FCC’s rules and 

regulations are located in Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).1

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)

A number of pipelines transmitting petroleum products cross the study area. The 

Office of Pipeline Safety of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 

Administration (PHMSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation, is 

charged with regulating pipeline safety under 49 CFR § 190.1. Pipeline owners and 

operators are required to meet particular standards of qualification to operate 

pipelines, uphold established safety standards, and participate in public safety 

programs that “notify an operator of proposed demolition, excavation, tunneling, or 

construction near or affecting a pipeline,” identify pipelines that may be affected by 

such activities, and identify any hazard that may affect a pipeline. 

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) was established in 1977 to 

determine whether wholesale electricity prices were reasonable, and proceeded to 

deregulate the electricity market. Currently, this independent federal agency 

 

1

Federal Communications Commission, 2014
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regulates the interstate transmission of natural gas, oil, and electricity. Additionally, 

FERC regulates the wholesale electricity rates, oil pipelines, hydroelectric 

infrastructure, and the natural gas industry. FERC also authorizes the installation or 

abandonment of natural gas infrastructure, and surveys electric transmission 

project applications, as well as overseeing environmental affairs related to the 

natural gas or hydroelectric industries.2 

State

California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) primarily regulates the provision 

of privately owned utilities in California. These utilities include privately owned 

telecommunications, electric, natural gas, water, railroad, rail transit, and passenger 

transportation companies. The CPUC does not regulate projects that would cross 

utility lines, these are typically controlled by the utility company themselves; 

however, the CPUC does regulate the creation of new at-grade rail crossings. 

Office of the State Fire Marshal, Pipeline Safety Division (The 

Division)

The Division regulates intrastate hazardous liquid pipelines pursuant to the 

Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1981. The Division investigates all spills, 

ruptures, fires, and pipeline incidents and currently regulates the safety of 

approximately 4,500 miles of intrastate hazardous liquid transportation pipelines.3

Local

Monterey County General Plan

The Monterey County General Plan Public Services Element includes policies related 

to providing adequate public services and facilities (APSF). Ensuring that APSF are 

available to support new development, and that they are provided concurrently 

with new development is required, new development is required to connect to 

existing water service providers whenever possible, and all projects are required to 

be designed to minimize runoff and absorb rainfall using a variety of mitigation 

techniques. There are also policies ensuring that new development is guaranteed a 

long-term sustainable water supply, adequate wastewater treatment, and requiring

 

2

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 2014

3

California Office of the State Fire Marshal, 2013.
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developers to construct or contribute their fair share to the funding of new or 

expanded water and/or wastewater treatment facilities if needed to serve their 

development.

City of Salinas General Plan

The City’s General Plan provides policies regarding providing effective and 

responsive fire and police protection, and emergency response system. A safe and 

adequate supply of water is encouraged, as well as creating a safer community 

through the use of design techniques for new development. There are also policies 

aimed at protecting the community from hazards related to ground transportation, 

such as rail, truck, and roadway systems.

City of Soledad General Plan

The City’s General Plan provides policies requiring adequate public services during 

new development, fair share contributions from developers for additional public 

services such as fire and police protection, water-conserving design and equipment 

in new construction and landscaping, and new development compliance with the 

Monterey County Integrated Waste Management Plan.

City of King (King City) General Plan

The City’s General Plan includes policies requiring new development to assure that 

adequate services and facilities are, or will be, available within a reasonable time, to 

provide coordinated, ongoing planning for public service facilities, and requiring that 

all new development proposals be referred to the Police and Fire Departments for 

law-enforcement and safety evaluation. There are also policies assuring adequate 

water service, supply, wastewater service, and drainage throughout the city, and 

requiring the extension of new power transmission lines to be placed underground.

San Luis Obispo County General Plan

The San Luis Obispo County General Plan provides policies encouraging new 

development to be carefully located, especially when development involves fuel in 

higher fire risk areas. Policies also require that adequate facilities, equipment and 

personnel are available to meet the demands of fire fighting in San Luis Obispo 

County. The amount, location, and rate of growth allowed by the Land Use Element 

is restricted by the sustainable capacity of resources, public services, and facilities 

and the General Plan requires additional public resources, services, and facilities to 

be provided preemptively to avoid over burdening existing resources.
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3.8.2 METHODS OF EVALUATION

Utilities

To better understand the potential for proposed physical improvements to result in

impacts to utilities, the analysis in this section is built upon a review of available 

data for all known utilities (pipelines, transmission lines, and related facilities) within 

or adjacent to the project corridor. The purpose of this review is to determine if the 

any of the proposed physical improvements would cross or pass in close proximity 

to existing utilities. To the extent potential conflicts have been identified, this 

document proposes appropriate strategies to avoid or minimize the effects of such 

conflicts. 

A secondary potential impact is whether any of the proposed improvements could 

result in expanded utility demand that could not be met without the construction of 

new facilities. 

Public Services

Potential public services impacts could occur if there is an identified need to expand 

or build new facilities for police, fire, or emergency services, or if construction of any 

proposed physical improvements could potentially result in the temporary 

disruption of such services because of detours or other temporary barriers.

3.8.3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

Public Utilities

The utility service providers in the study area are summarized below.

Natural Gas Facilities

Natural gas facilities and pipelines are provided by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and 

Southern California Gas Company (SCG). The service area covered by PG&E includes 

northern and central California. SCG provides service to most of southern 

California. There are currently about 3.4 miles (18,000 linear feet) of pipeline 

immediately adjacent to the 130 mile rail corridor.4 

 

4

ICF, 2013
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Electrical Transmission Lines

Electrical transmission lines in the area are provided by PG&E. PG&Es service area 

spans much of California, from Shasta Lake area to just south of Lompoc. About 1.1 

miles (roughly 5,700 linear feet) of electrical transmission lines are in place 

immediately adjacent to the existing rail 130 mile rail corridor.

5

Telecommunications

Telecommunication, through optical fiber, is the backbone for broadband 

communications. Fiber-optic communication has many advantages over traditional 

copper-wire and wireless communications; it is non-corrosive, immune to weather 

and electrical noise, is made from renewable sources, it has more bandwidth, and 

offers the best return on investment for networks.

Fiber-optic transmission lines are in place along the rail corridor, traveling directly 

alongside the existing rail alignment for approximately 30 miles from Paso Robles to 

San Luis Obispo.6 Railroad tracks are generally considered good paths for 

telecommunications cable because they offer unobstructed, linear routes.

Solid Waste

Between Salinas and San Luis Obispo, solid waste disposal is provided by multiple 

service providers. The Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority (SVSWA) serves the 

eastern inland portions of Monterey County, including Salinas, Soledad, and King 

City. The SVSWA operates two landfills; the Johnson Canyon Sanitary Landfill in 

Gonzales, and the Jolon Road Sanitary Landfill in King City. They each have available 

capacity to receive solid waste, with 5.9 million cubic yards and 826,500 cubic yards 

remaining capacities, respectively. The SVSWA also has plans to expand all of its 

landfills, as well as site a new landfill.7

The City of Paso Robles owns a landfill and franchises for solid waste collection 

within the city limits. Paso Robles Waste Disposal is the sole franchise collection 

company, and Pacific Waste Services operates the city-owned landfill. As of July 

2009, the landfill had over 3 million tons of remaining capacity to receive solid 

waste.8

 

5

ICF, 2013

6

Savage, 2012

7 Monterey County, 2006, pp. 4.11-27-4.11-28

8

City of El Paso de Robles, 2010, Table 5-11 and 

http://www.prcity.com/GOVERNMENT/departments/publicworks/trash-recycling/index.asp
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Solid waste in San Luis Obispo is managed by San Luis Garbage, and is received by 

the Cold Canyon landfill just outside of the city. The landfill currently accepts up to 

1,200 tons per day of disposal material, and is currently waiting for approval to 

expand the facility, which would increase disposal capacity and extend the life of the 

landfill by 25 years, to year 2040.9

Wastewater

Wastewater services are provided by several utilities along the Corridor. The new 

and existing train stations are the only facilities that would require wastewater 

services within the vicinity of the alignment. Further analysis will primarily focus on 

the utilities in the jurisdictions with proposed or existing stations.

 Salinas: Salinas is served by the Monterey County Regional Water Pollution 

Control Agency (MRWPCA) which provides wastewater conveyance, treatment, 

disposal, and recycling services. The MRWPCA plant is rated at 29.6 mgd and 

currently flows are 21 mgd resulting in capacity to treat additional wastewater 

flows. MRWPCA uses connection fees to fund future expansions, and while 

specific improvement projects have not been identified to meet future needs 

generated by development, they do not anticipate problems in funding future 

expansions when they become necessary.10

 Soledad: Soledad operates one wastewater treatment plant with a treatment 

capacity of 5.5 mgd; however, the current capacity is effectively limited to 4.3 

mgd due to disposal capacity limitations. The city currently processes 

approximately 1.5 mgd, just over 35 percent of the plant’s effective capacity.11 

The treated water meets Title 22 Recycled Water Standards. The wastewater 

treatment plant serves the city and the Salinas Valley State Prison. The plant 

was upgraded in 2010 to meet the tertiary treatment requirements of the 

Regional Water Quality Control Board Order WRR R3-2008-0042.12

 King City: The King City Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is located along 

the Salinas River northwest of the city. The facility provides collection, 

treatment, and disposal of both domestic and industrial wastes. Flow capacity 

at the facility is approximately 1.2 mgd, and daily flows are estimated to be 0.87

mgd. The city adopted a Wastewater Facilities Plan (WFP) in 2004 which 

includes improvements that are expected to increase the treatment capacity of 

 

9

County of San Luis Obispo, 2009, pp. 3-1-3-2.

10 City of Salinas, 2002, pp. 5.13-36-5.13-37

11 City of Soledad, 2012, p. 3-17

12 City of Soledad, 2012, pp. 4.6-6-4.6-7
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the facility. The city has commenced the first phase of improvements to 

implement the adopted WFP, which will effectively increase the treatment 

capacity to 1.53 mgd. A second phase of improvements is scheduled for design, 

bringing capacity to 1.92 mgd.13

 Paso Robles: The City of Paso Robles operates its own Wastewater Treatment 

Plant located along the Salinas River at the north end of town. The existing 

treatment process fails to meet Federal and State water quality regulations, and 

the city is occasionally fined for violations of its NPDES permit. The city is 

planning a major WWTP upgrade to address these problems and prepare for the 

future production of recycled water.14

 San Luis Obispo: San Luis Obispo provides its own wastewater treatment within 

the city and serves California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) and the 

County of San Luis Obispo Airport. The WWTP provides for collection and 

treatment for residential, commercial, and industrial users. Over the past nine 

years, dry-weather flow to the Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) has ranged 

from 4.08 mgd to 5.12 mgd, and is designed to accommodate an average dryweather flow of 5.2 mgd. Improvements are planned that will provide capacity 

for up to 5.8 mgd to accommodate General Plan buildout.15

Water

A variety of service providers deliver water within the vicinity of the Corridor. Given 

that the existing and proposed new train stations are the only components of the 

physical improvements that would require any permanent water supply, and that 

construction-related water use would be temporary and likely trucked in on an asneeded basis, further discussion will focus on providers that would supply the 

proposed stations.

 Salinas: Both California Water Service Corporation (Cal Water) and Alco Water 

Service (Alco) provide water to the City of Salinas. Alco serves the east and 

southeast portions of the city, totaling approximately one third of the city. The 

majority of the urbanized area is served by Cal Water. 

 Alco’s services are regulated by the CPUC and currently meet the level of 

service standards set forth in General Order 103, as well as State of California 

Department of Health Services, and Federal Environmental Protection Agency 

 

13 City of King 2011, pp. 4-3-4-4

14 City of Paso Robles, Wastewater Division website. 

http://www.prcity.com/government/departments/publicworks/wastewater/. Accessed 8/22/13

15 City of San Luis Obispo, 2010, p. 8-24
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standards and requirements. Water is provided for irrigation, industrial, and 

commercial purposes through nine wells and one storage tank. Total well 

capacity is approximately 13,560 mgy, and pump capacity is about 7,525 mgy. 

Alco also uses approximately 1,550 million gallons of groundwater per year. 

Additional storage facilities and wells were planned and discussed in the 

Salinas General Plan (2002) that would approximately double groundwater 

source capacity.16

 Cal Water is a private investor-owned utility, also regulated by the CPUC, 

providing service to approximately 100,000 residents. All of the water is 

groundwater sourced through 27 privately-owned deep wells, producing 

approximately 4,700 mgy. Groundwater capacity in the city is rated at 16,900 

gallons per minute. Both purveyors face complexities associated with 

seawater intrusion and high nitrate levels, and Cal Water is working closely 

with the MCWRA to address these issues. 17

 Soledad: Soledad provides its own municipal water, supplied solely from 

groundwater retrieved from the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin. The city 

currently has four wells providing 5.9 mgd, or 4,100 gpm distributed mostly to 

residential and agricultural uses. Two additional wells are planned to be 

operational by 2016.18 The Urban Water Management Plan notes that there are 

currently no restrictions in place directing how much water the city can extract 

from the Basin, and the Basin is currently overtapped by approximately four 

percent per year. Conservation efforts and reduced agricultural water use are 

expected to remedy the imbalance.

19

 King City: Cal Water serves King City with six wells, providing approximately 2.4 

mgd of local ground water to more than 3,100 service connections.20 The Cal 

Water system has a maximum production capacity of 3 mgd and is currently 

adequate to meet the needs of the city. Water demand is expected to increase

as the population grows in the city, drilling of additional wells as well as 

implementing conservation efforts are anticipated to help offset water demand 

and accommodate additional demand.21

 

16 City of Salinas, 2002, pp. 5.13-27/29

17 City of Salinas, 2002, pp. 5.13-27/29

18 City of Soledad, 2012, p. 4.6-1

19 City of Soledad, 2012, p. 3-19

20 City of King, 2011, pg. 4-1

21 City of King, 1998, pp. S-19-S-20
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 Paso Robles: The Paso Robles Water Division is responsible for providing the 

City with water. There are 19 wells serving approximately 9,200 residential, 800 

commercial, and 400 irrigation customers within the city. Water is drawn from 

the Paso Robles Basin and the Salinas River Underflow, and over fifty percent of 

the city’s water is supplied by seven wells along the Salinas River Corridor. The 

city is also a participant in the Lake Nacimiento Water Project (NWP) and has 

secured a 4,000 AFY water entitlement. The design of a new surface-water 

treatment plant in under design and should be operational by 2015. The water 

from Lake Nacimiento will supplement water drawn from the Paso Robles Basin 

and help to ensure a long-term and reliable water supply for the city.22

 San Luis Obispo: The City of San Luis Obispo provides its own municipal water 

and draws water from five different sources – the Salinas Reservoir (Santa 

Margarita Lake), Whale Rock Reservoir, Nacimiento Reservoir, recycled water 

from the City’s Water Reclamation Facility (WRF), and groundwater.

Public Services

The cities of Salinas, Soledad, King City, Paso Robles, and San Luis Obispo each have 

their own police departments. Fire protection services are provided by several 

different organizations. Within Monterey County, Salinas, Soledad, and King City 

each have their own fire departments. The Department of Forestry and Fire 

Protection (CAL FIRE) operates fire stations in Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo. 

Paso Robles Emergency Services and the San Luis Obispo Fire Department also 

operate fire stations within each of their respective cities. 

Section 3.14, Growth Inducement, includes descriptions of existing public park and 

recreational facilities between Salinas and San Luis Obispo within 500 feet of the 

existing rail alignment and/or proposed rail improvements.

3.8.4 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES

No Build Alternative

The No Build Alternative represents the continuation of existing rail operations and 

physical components, and assumes the perpetuation of existing freight and 

passenger service between Salinas and San Luis Obispo. The only physical 

improvement expected under the No Build Alternative would be the installation of 

positive train control (PTC) along the Corridor, which would provide increased safety 

 

22 City of Paso Robles, 2014b
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for freight and passenger trains. Such a system, when installed, will require 

electrical connections at signals but would otherwise not represent any substantial 

new draw on utility resources. The intention of PTC is to improve rail safety; once 

implemented, demand for rail-related emergency services (already at low levels) 

would be expected to decrease further. 

Construction activities under the No Build Alternative may create some electrical 

demand, but given that many construction sites use generators and thus do not

require connection to the electrical power grid or require natural gas, it can be 

assumed that demands for such resources will be negligible.

It is common practice to coordinate with utility representatives during construction 

in the vicinity of critical infrastructure such as high-voltage overhead/underground 

transmission lines, high-pressure gas pipelines, or aqueduct canals. 

Build Alternative

For the purposes of this analysis, the existing conditions are treated as 

representative of the No Build Alternative, and the analysis summarizes the relative 

differences between the existing conditions and the Build Alternative.

Utility Conflicts

Utility conflicts are expected to be low in areas where rail improvements would 

occur within the existing railroad right-of-way given that utilities have already been 

sited to minimize conflicts with the rail corridor. Curve realignments and the second 

mainline, since they have the greatest likelihood of departing from the railroad 

right-of-way, thus have the greatest potential for conflicts with both above- and 

below-ground utilities. 

Table 3.8-1 below illustrates the extent of potential temporary and permanent 

conflicts with transmission lines and pipelines associated with implementation of 

the Build Alternative.

Table 3.8-1 Potential Utility Impacts

Build Alternative 

Components

Potential Transmission Line 

Impacts (linear feet)

Potential Pipeline Impacts 

(linear feet)

Temporary Permanent Temporary Permanent

Salinas Powered Switch 0 0 0 0

Upgrades to Existing Alignment 

Section #1 

0 0 0 0
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Build Alternative 

Components

Potential Transmission Line 

Impacts (linear feet)

Potential Pipeline Impacts 

(linear feet)

Spence Siding Extension 0 0 0 10,002

Upgrades to Existing Alignment 

Section #2 

0 0 0 0

Gonzales Powered Switch 0 0 0 0

Soledad Powered Switch 0 0 0 0

Soledad New Passenger Station 0 0 0 0

Harlem/Metz Curve Realignments 0 0 0 0

Chalone Creek New Siding 0 0 0 0

Upgrades to Existing Alignment 

Section #3

0 0 0 0

Coburn Curve Realignments 0 0 0 0

King City Siding Extension 4,244 372 0 0

King City New Passenger Station 0 0 0 0

King City Powered Switch 0 0 0 0

Upgrades to Existing Alignment 

Section #4

0 0 0 0

MP 165 Curve Realignment 0 0 0 0

San Lucas New Siding 109 133 0 0

Upgrades to Existing Alignment 

Section #5

0 0 0 0

MP 172 Track Realignment 0 0 0 0

San Ardo Powered Switch 0 0 0 0

Getty/Bradley Curve 

Realignments

0 0 0 0

Bradley Siding Extension 0 0 0 0

Bradley Powered Switch 0 0 0 0

Upgrades to Existing Alignment 

Section #6

0 0 0 0
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Build Alternative 

Components

Potential Transmission Line 

Impacts (linear feet)

Potential Pipeline Impacts 

(linear feet)

Upgrades to Existing Alignment 

Section #7

0 0 0 0

McKay/ Wellsona Curve 

Realignments

0 0 0 0

McKay East Powered Switches 0 0 0 0

Wellsona New Siding 0 0 0 0

Upgrades to Existing Alignment 

Section #8

0 0 0 0

Wellsona/ Paso Robles Curve 

Realignments

0 0 0 0

Templeton Siding 237 309 1,166 0

Templeton/ Henry Curve 

Realignments

0 0 0 0

Upgrades to Existing Alignment 

Section #9

0 0 0 0

Henry/Santa Margarita Curve 

Realignment

0 0 0 0

Santa Margarita Powered Switch 0 0 0 0

Cuesta Second Main Track 215 91 3,463 3,374

Upgrades to Existing Alignment 

Section #10

0 0 0 0

Totals 4,806 906 4,629 13,376

Source: ICF, 2013.

Natural Gas Pipelines

Construction and operation of the Build Alternative could result in potential 

proximity impacts to natural gas pipelines. New sidings and siding extensions, as 

well as the second main track have potential to intersect and conflict with existing 

pipelines adjacent to the railway.

Construction-Period Effects

Approximately 1 mile (4,629 lf) of pipeline could experience temporary potential 

proximity impacts during construction activities. The Cuesta second main track 
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would be responsible for the majority of this potential impact. Construction-related 

impacts to natural gas pipelines could result in service disruptions and possibly 

damage to the pipeline from construction vehicle ingress/egress and construction 

equipment.

Operational Effects

Implementation of the Build Alternative could conflict with approximately 2.5 miles 

(13,376 lf) of natural gas pipelines. The Spence Siding extension accounts for a 

significant amount the potential proximity impacts to pipelines, affecting 

approximately 1.9 miles (10,002 linear feet) of natural gas pipelines if constructed. 

Elements of the Build Alternative are expected to cross existing natural gas pipelines 

on a total of 6 occasions throughout the alignment, 3 of which occur along the King 

City Siding extension improvement. This could cause damage the pipeline, and 

potentially cause some degree of service disruption. 

Potentially impacted pipelines can either be protected in place so no damage during 

construction or subsequent operations occurs, or it can be relocated if protecting in 

place isn’t feasible, nor is relocating the improvement causing the conflict. Prior to 

implementing specific improvements detailed plans will be developed and allow 

more specific determination as to the location, duration, and severity of proximity 

impacts to natural gas pipelines. 

Electrical Transmission Lines

Existing electrical transmission lines could be intersected during construction and 

operation of the Build Alternative. 

Construction-Period Effects

During construction, temporary proximity impacts could occur to about 0.9 miles 

(4,806 lf) of electrical transmission lines. The King City Siding extension would 

account for the majority of potential proximity impacts, intersecting with 

approximately 0.8 miles (4,244 lf) of electrical transmission lines during construction 

activities. Resulting impacts could be minor, or result in temporary service 

disruptions and some degree of damage to the transmission line.

Operational Effects

Implementation of elements of the Build Alternative could conflict with less than 

0.25 miles (906 lf) of existing transmission lines. The King City Siding extension 

could conflict with up to 0.1 miles (372 lf) of electrical transmission lines once 

operational. Elements of the Build Alternative are expected to cross transmission 

lines on a total of 3 occasions along the alignment.
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Similar to natural gas pipelines, transmission lines can either be protected in place 

so no damage during construction or subsequent operations occurs, or it can be 

relocated if protecting in place isn’t feasible, nor is relocating the improvement 

causing the intersection. Prior to implementing specific improvements detailed 

plans will be developed and allow more specific determination as to the location, 

duration, and severity of proximity impacts to electrical transmission lines.

Water Transmission Lines: Construction and Operational Effects

The Nacimiento Water Project (NWP) regional raw water transmission facility 

delivers water from Lake Nacimiento to communities in San Luis Obispo County via a 

45 mile water pipeline ranging between 12 and 36 inches in diameter.23 This 

pipeline roughly tracks the existing railroad alignment from north of Paso Robles 

south to San Luis Obispo. The following elements of the Build Alternative are 

proposed to occur in this area: Wellsona New Siding, Templeton/Henry Curve 

Realignments, Wellsona/Paso Robles Curve Realignments, Templeton New Siding,

Henry/Santa Margarita Curve Realignment, Santa Margarita Powered Switch, and 

the Second Main Track. Construction and operation of the aforementioned 

improvements could result in potential proximity impacts to the water transmission 

line. 

Telecommunications: Construction and Operational Effects

Fiber-optic transmission lines are in place along the Corridor, traveling directly 

alongside the existing alignment from Paso Robles to San Luis Obispo. The following 

elements of the Build Alternative are proposed to occur in this section of the 

alignment: Templeton/Henry Curve Realignments, Henry/Santa Margarita Curve 

Realignment, Santa Margarita Powered Switch, and the Second Main Track.

Potential proximity Impacts to telecommunication transmission lines may occur 

during construction and operation of elements of the Build Alternative given their 

proximity to the existing alignment and proposed improvements.

Utility Usage

Construction-Period Effects

Many of the elements of the Build Alternative would be developed with heavy 

equipment, including diesel powered trucks and other machinery. Construction

activities would require minimal direct usage of local utilities, like electricity and 

water. Often construction activities provide for any required electricity using onsite 

generators, eliminating the need to connect to the electrical power grid. Some 

water would likely be required during construction as part of standard construction

 

23 Atascardero Mutual Water Company, 2014
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best practices to help control dust and other emissions. The quantity of water 

needed is anticipated to be relatively low, given the low levels of earthwork, 

grading, and other dust creating activities that would take place. Additionally, given 

the likely low quantity of water needed during construction activities, water would 

be trucked in on an as-needed basis. 

Operational Effects

Operation of certain features of the Build Alternative would require some 

electricity, specifically new powered switches, signal upgrades, and new stations. 

New stations would also require some water use and wastewater service for 

restroom facilities. Other features, such as sidings, curve realignments, etc. would 

have little or no perceptible use of public utilities.

The general impacts associated with the Station elements of the Build Alternative 

have been assessed in the planning documents of the two receiving cities - Soledad 

and King City. The stations would be located in developed city centers, so minimal 

or no utility extension would be needed. A variety of service providers deliver water 

within the vicinity of the Corridor, as described above in Section 3.8.2, Affected 

Environment. Given that the existing and proposed train stations are the only 

components of the physical improvements that would require any permanent water 

supply, new demand for water resources is not expected to be significant. No 

potential proximity impacts to utilities were identified related to the station areas.

Signal upgrades would require some electricity to operate. New signal towers may 

be required to operate CTC. Where CTC equipment is adjacent to utilities, direct 

connections could be made; this would prove difficult through more remote areas 

along the Corridor. 

Public Services

Construction-Period Effects

The vast majority of proposed improvements would be constructed within the 

existing railroad right-of-way or in new right-of-way proposed to be created 

(particularly curve realignments), typically avoiding existing roads. Therefore, the 

potential for roads to be blocked or diverted by construction-related temporary 

emergency service and/or public facility disruptions would be low. Where 

construction work or construction vehicles would make extensive use of existing 

roads, a situation likely limited to the construction of improvements across such 

roads, temporary access disruptions could be expected similar to other types of 

roadway improvement work. 
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Operational Effects

It is unlikely that implementation of the Build Alternative would require any 

significant increase in public services or facilities because the proposed physical 

improvements would not encourage substantial population growth. Individual rail 

improvements, such as curve realignments, the second mainline, and other 

trackway improvements have no foreseeable connection or linkage to increased 

demand for public services. New or expanded station areas could incrementally 

contribute to increased demands for certain public services (police response, 

emergency services, etc.). However, the anticipated increase in station area activity 

is modest, even in the two communities where new stations are planned. Neither 

of the environmental documents for the Soledad or King City station 

area/downtown plans indicated any significant effect to public services as a result of 

plan implementation. Anticipated increases in passenger activity at the Salinas and 

San Luis Obispo stations are not at such high levels that substantial public services 

impacts could occur. 

3.8.5 AVOIDANCE, MINIMIZATION, AND MITIGATION 

STRATEGIES

Where appropriate, mitigation strategies should consider relocating, reconstructing, 

or restoring affected utilities in close coordination with the utility owner. During 

utility relocation planning several design strategies should be considered, including 

consolidating numerous utilities into one single conduit corridor. 

The following strategies have been identified at this preliminary stage to avoid, 

minimize, and/or mitigate any potential utility conflicts.

A-PS-1. Adapt rail improvements to accommodate existing utility facilities and 

transmission lines.

A-PS-2. During project-level planning and design, refer to each utility 

owner/provider to best avoid potential impacts on existing and planned utilities 

through adjustments to design features. 

MIN-PS-3. Where avoidance is infeasible, utility transmission lines and facilities 

would be relocated or protected in place throughout all phases of construction and 

operation, and in compliance with the involved utility owners/providers.

MIN-PS-4. Implement solar powered CTC in remote areas where utility connections 

would be difficult.
Coast Corridor

Draft Program EIS/EIR 3.8 Public Utilities

3.8-17

3.8.6 SUBSEQUENT ANALYSIS

Subsequent analysis would include more detailed information on the following 

public services and utilities:

 The specific locations of and potential impacts to public facilities and emergency 

services (such as schools, parks, fire and police stations, hospitals, and medical 

clinics).

 Fiber optic lines.

 Telecommunication lines.

 Storm drains.

 Wastewater and water pump stations.

 Wastewater conveyance lines.

 Water supply lines.

 Other utilities and/or pipelines likely to be crossed or conflict with the various 

alignment options, including liquid petroleum, crude oil, renewable energy 

facilities, etc.

Future project-level analysis would consider all utilities and public service providers 

once the physical improvements are finalized.
Coast Corridor

3.8 Public Utilities Draft Program EIS/EIR

3.8-18

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