NEWS RELEASE: California High-Speed Rail Extends Public Comment Period and Changes Public Hearing Format for the San Francisco to San Jose Project Section

Aug 3 2020 | San Jose

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) today is extending the public review period for the San Francisco to San Jose Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) to Sept. 9, 2020. The Authority also is transitioning the public hearing for the Draft EIR/EIS, scheduled for Aug. 19, 2020, to an online/teleconference format.

In consideration of limitations caused by the outbreak of COVID-19, the Authority elected to extend the public review period to provide members of the public and stakeholders additional time for review and comments. The public review period had been set to expire Aug. 24, 2020.

The public hearing will include a webcast and a moderated call-in number, which the public can use to submit oral comments. The date and time of the public hearing remain the same. Interpretation will be available in Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Mandarin. This hearing is the only opportunity to provide oral comment on the Draft EIR/EIS.

Detailed access information for the virtual public hearing is listed below and will be sent out to individuals on the Authority’s electronic mailing list. The information will also be posted on the Authority’s website at www.hsr.ca.gov. To be added to the Authority’s electronic mailing list for this project section, or to receive the meeting details via telephone, please contact the Authority at 866-300-3044.

San Francisco to San Jose Virtual Public Hearing
Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020
3 – 8 p.m.

To view a live stream of the public hearing, please visit videossc.com/HSR

The public can provide comments by joining the webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82619794385 or by phone by dialing 669-900-9128 and entering the webinar ID: 826 1979 4385.

The public can continue to submit comments on the San Francisco to San Jose Draft EIR/EIS in the following ways:

• Via web comment form on the Authority’s website: https://hsr.ca.gov/programs/environmental/eis_eir/draft_san_francisco_san_jose_comment.aspx
• Via email to San.Francisco_San.Jose@hsr.ca.gov with the subject line “Draft EIR/EIS Comment”
• Via mail at the address below:

Attn: San Francisco to San Jose Draft EIR/EIS
California High-Speed Rail Authority
100 Paseo de San Antonio, Suite 300
San Jose, CA 95113

After the comment period closes Sept. 9, 2020, and the comments received have been evaluated, staff will prepare and issue the Final EIR/EIS document and present it to the Authority Board of Directors to consider for certification and project approval under the California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act.

The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being or have been carried out by the State of California pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated July 23, 2019, and executed by the Federal Railroad Administration and the State of California.

To view the contents of the Draft EIR/EIS, please visit: https://hsr.ca.gov/programs/environmental/eis_eir/draft_san_francisco_san_jose.aspx