Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report Refinements
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), in cooperation with the Federal Railroad Administration and the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA), has prepared a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (SEIS/EIR) to evaluate refinements to the Downtown Rail Extension (DTX) component of the Transbay Program, as well as other transportation improvements and development opportunities associated with the Transbay Program. The SEIS/EIR supplements and updates an earlier report certified by the TJPA in 2004 and adopted by the FTA in 2005.
The components evaluated in the Draft SEIS/EIR are shown below:
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- Train Box Extension – The underground train box could be extended east one block to Main Street.
- Intercity Bus Facility – A new bus facility would be constructed above the extended train box between Beale and Main streets. It would serve operators such as Amtrak and Greyhound.
- Ventilation and Emergency Egress Structures –
Six emergency ventilation/evacuation structures would be co-located with emergency tunnel exits at various locations along the DTX alignment.
- Taxi Staging Areas – Curbside passenger loading and unloading spaces for taxis would be provided on Natoma Street alongside the new intercity bus facility.
- BART/Muni Underground Pedestrian Connector
A pedestrian connection would link the Embarcadero BART/Muni Metro Station to the Transit Center.
- Bicycle/Controlled Vehicle Ramp – A bicycle ramp would lead to below-grade bicycle facilities within the Transit Center. A separate controlled-access vehicle ramp to the Lower Concourse (for use by emergency and approved maintenance vehicles) would run parallel to the bicycle ramp.
- Widened Throat Structure – The proposed widened throat structure provides the connection between the underground tracks and the train box below the Transit Center. It will conform to design specifications required for high-speed rail service.
- Rock Dowels – Rock dowels are approximately 15-foot-long rods that would be installed along the mined tunnel segment.
- Parking at AC Transit Bus Storage Facility – The AC Transit bus storage facility would be used for off-hours/nighttime or special event parking when not in use by AC Transit for regular operations.
- Fourth and Townsend Underground Station Realignment – The underground station would be realigned to parallel Townsend Street.
- Tunnel Stub Box – A new below-grade train box at the west end of the Caltrain railyard near Townsend and Seventh streets would be constructed to accommodate future grade separations and expedite future arrival of below-grade Caltrain and high-speed trains.
- Additional Trackwork – A turnback track and maintenance of way storage track would be constructed within the existing Caltrain right-of-way between Hooper Street and Mariposa Street, immediately east of Seventh Street.
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