California High Speed Rail
FEIR / FEIS
Comment Letter
Burbank City Council Meeting
1/11/2022
David Kriske, Assistant Community
Development Director
Tonight’s Presentation
• High Speed Rail Project Description
• Authority FEIR/FEIS
• Further City Council Comments
• Recommendation
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION
Overall Alignment
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION
Alignment
Through
Burbank
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION
Proposed Station
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION
New Rail Tunnel
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION
Modified
Crossings
Buena Vista /
Vanowen
New Rail Underpass
Below Street
Victory Place
New Rail Overpass
Above Street
Burbank Blvd
Demolish and
Rebuild Bridge
Alameda Avenue
Widened Rail Overpass
Above Street
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION
Modified
Crossings
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION
Modified
Metrolink Station
PROJECT
CONSTRUCTION
DURATION
9.5 YEARS
CITY COUNCIL DEIR / DEIS
COMMENT LETTER – JULY 2020
• Insufficient Range of Project Alternatives
• Construction Impacts not Fully Disclosed
• Project Divides Established Neighborhoods
• Project Eliminates TOD Opportunities
• Noise & Vibration Mitigations not Identified
• Public Infrastructure Impacts must be
Addressed
Final Environmental Impact Report /
Environmental Impact Statement
• Released November 5, 2021
• Includes comments received during DEIR/DEIS
• Responds to all comments
• Proposes changes to project or mitigations in
response to comments
Did FEIR/FEIS Respond to City’s
Comments?
• Clarified City’s transportation analysis
comments and questions
• Changed project and mitigations to reduce
impacts to existing and future bicycle
transportation facilities
DID FEIR/FEIS Respond to City’s
Comments?
• Did not fully address City’s construction
impact concerns
• Did not adequately respond to noise and
vibration concerns
• Did not respond to City’s request to consider
more below-grade alignment near sensitive
land uses
Did FEIR/FEIS Respond to City’s
Comments?
• Did not respond to concerns about dividing
neighborhoods, or reconsider options to build
infrastructure in a less-divisive manner
• Did not address concerns about loss of TOD
• Unresolved questions concerning damage to
City infrastructure
• Did not identify electrical demand on BWP for
new station
City Council FEIR/FEIS Comment Letter
• Staff recommends City Council approve
FEIR/FEIS comment letter
• Letter provides further comments and clarifies
concerns regarding remaining City issues
• Send to Authority ahead of January 19, 2022
meeting to certify FEIR/FEIS and approve
project
• Based on Authority’s decision, City Council
could consider legal action
RECOMMENDATION
• Approve Comment Letter
• Direct staff to Submit ahead of the January 19,
2022 California High Speed Rail Authority Meeting
QUESTIONS AND COUNCIL DIRECTION
David Kriske
Assistant Community Development Director