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BACKGROUND The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), California High-Speed Rail Authority, Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), and Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board. (Caltrain), along with a coalition of rail passenger and freight operators, have initiated an update to the Bay Area Regional Rail Plan. The Regional Rail Plan was created in 1957 and was designed to connect the 9 Bay Area counties. This original plan became the backbone for the creation of the existing BART network. This update examines ways to incorporate passenger trains into existing rail systems, improve connections to other trains and transit, expand the regional rapid. transit network, increase rail capacity, and coordinate rail investments. The plan also includes a detailed analysis of potential high-speed rail routes between the Bay Area and Central Valley. To assist in the update of this plan, a Policy Advisory Committee of Tri-Valley agencies, which include the cities of Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, San Ramon, Danville and Tracy, Counties of San Joaquin and Alameda, LAVTA, BART, CMA, ACE and the Port of Oakland, was convened to form a consensus vision of Tri-Valley-specific goals and objectives that should be part of the Regional Rail Plan. The consensus vision ..and goals for regional rail in the Tri-Valley include: • Serving expected travel demand patterns • Providing convenient intermodal connections • .Consistency with existing and projected land uses • Cost effectiveness The Draft Bay Area Regional Rail Plan Report was released for comment in July. The draft report provides several alternative plans based on the outcome of the final design of the California High Speed Rail System. The Tri-Valley Policy Advisory Committee (Attachment 2) submitted the attached letter to provide collective guidance to the Regional Rail Group. The design and alignment of a High Speed Rail Network has not been completed, but an EIR/EIS is being circulated that describes the environmental impacts of a proposed High Speed Rail System connecting the Central Valley to the Bay Area. Within the document there are two alternatives to make this connection. One design brings High Speed Rail through the Altamont Pass, the other through the Pacheco Pass (Gilroy). Ultimately, the High Speed Rail Network is planned to connect Sacramento to San Diego with operating speeds up to 220 mph. DISCUSSION The Draft Regional Rail Plan Report recommends continuing to have BART serve as the core rail service, but recognizes the capacity constraints and renovation needs for the existing system, and that reinvestment should be a top regional priority over the next few decades. Additionally, the plan cites that outward expansion potential is limited and Page 2 of 5