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Chapter 21 Response to Comments from State Agencies Received After 4-28Response to Submission 828 (Derek Higa, CalTrans District 7 Division of Design, June 17, 2020) Continued828-935828-938The commenter requests that any impacts on Caltrans right-of-way resulting fromimplementation of the proposed HSR alignment not affect the owner-operatorresponsibilities held by Caltrans for their facilities. The commenter notes that guidelinesfor environmental analysis for impacts on Caltrans right-of-way can be found on theThe commenter states that in May 2014, the City of Palmdale collaborated with theAuthority to realign Sierra Highway to the west of the railroad tracks, and notes that theCity of Palmdale wanted to avoid constraints with existing and future developments nearthe proposed Palmdale Station. The commenter requests that the Authority coordinateStandard Environmental Reference website. The webpage referenced by thecommenter was reviewed. The Authority’s Environmental Methodology Guidelines(Authority 2017 v. 5.09) are very similar to those provided on theStandard Environmental Reference website /standard-environmental-reference-ser). As the design of the HSR projectadvances, the Authority will coordinate with Caltrans to avoid affecting Caltransowner/operator responsibilities.with the City of Palmdale regarding the realignment of Sierra Highway to avoid negativeimpacts on the city and to the project. The Authority has continued to coordinate with theCity of Palmdale; coordination is up-to-date and will be ongoing throughout designphases and construction.828-936The commenter notes that the alignment plans provided to Caltrans for their reviewincluded detail beyond the scope of Caltrans right-of-way, and also contained detail forareas covered by other Caltrans districts. The commenter requests that, in the future,Caltrans only be sent design information relevant to Caltrans right-of-way. Thecommenter suggests that this be done by including the design information in a DraftProject Report. The commenter provides a link to Caltrans’ Project DevelopmentProcedures Manual. The link was reviewed; this suggestion is noted. Refer to Responseto Comment 828-932, contained in this chapter, for information about the Draft ProjectReport.828-937The commenter notes that the latest plans received by Caltrans are date-stamped 2017and asks for confirmation that these plans are the most recent roadway alignments. Todate, these are the most recent roadway alignments and they are included in Volume3 of the Draft EIR/EIS.California High-Speed Rail AuthorityBakersfield to Palmdale Project Section Final EIR/EISMay 2021Page 21-5

Chapter 21 Response to Comments from State Agencies Received After 4-28Submission 797 (Lorena Mendibles, Department of Transportation, April 30, 2020)STATE OF CALIFORNIA—CALIFORNIA STATE TRANSPORTATION AGENCYBakersfield - Palmdale - RECORD #797 DETAILStatus :Action PendingRecord Date :5/1/2020Affiliation Type :State AgencySubmission Date :4/30/2020Interest As :State AgencySubmission Method :LetterFirst Name :LorenaLast Name :MendiblesProfessional Title :ChiefBusiness/Organization :Department of TransportationAddress :1352 West Olive Ave.Apt./Suite No. :City :FresnoState :CAZip Code :93778-2616Telephone :559-488-4088Email :Cell Phone :Email Subscription :Add to Mailing List :YesEIR/EIS Comment :YesAttachments :GAVIN NEWSOM, GovernorDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONDISTRICT 6 OFFICE1352 WEST OLIVE AVENUEP.O. BOX 12616FRESNO, CA 93778-2616PHONE (559) 445-5421FAX (559) 488-4088TTY 711www.dot.ca.govMaking Conservationa California Way of LifeApril 30, 2020Draft Environmental Impact ReportBakersfield to Palmdale Project StationSCH #2009082062Mr. Mark McLoughlinCalifornia High-Speed Rail Authority770 L Street, Suite 600Sacramento, CA 95814Dear Mr. McLoughlin:Thank you for the opportunity to review the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR)for the California High-Speed Rail (HSR)’s Bakersfield to Palmdale Project Station. Theproject is in the northwest corner of State Route (SR) 204 and Chester Avenue, south ofthe Kern River, in the City of Bakersfield.CAHSR BAKERSFIELD TO PALMDALE D6 COMMENTS.pdf (96 kb)The HSR line runs alongside SR 204, SR 58, and SR 99 towards Tehachapi and Palmdale.Districts 7 and 9 will send separate comment letters.The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 6 has the followingcomments:797-5391. The DEIR will need to identify any site-specific impacts and mitigation measuresfor impacts that may occur within the State Highway System (SHS).797-5402. Based on the level of detail in the DEIR, additional environmental studies may berequired prior to Caltrans’ issuance of an encroachment permit.797-5413. An encroachment permit must be obtained for all proposed activities forplacement of encroachments within, under or over the State highway rights-ofway. Activity and work planned in the State right-of-way shall be performed toState standards and specifications, at no cost to the State. Engineering plans,calculations, specifications, and reports (documents) shall be stamped andsigned by a licensed Engineer or Architect. Engineering documents forencroachment permit activity and work in the State right-of-way may besubmitted using English Units. The Permit Department and the EnvironmentalPlanning Branch will review and approve the activity and work in the State rightof-way before an encroachment permit is issued. The Streets and HighwaysCode Section 670 provides Caltrans discretionary approval authority for projects“Provide a safe, sustainable, integrated and efficient transportation system to enhance California’s economy and livability”May 2021Page 21-6California High-Speed Rail AuthorityBakersfield to Palmdale Project Section Final EIR/EIS

Chapter 21 Response to Comments from State Agencies Received After 4-28Submission 797 (Lorena Mendibles, Department of Transportation, April 30, 2020) - ContinuedMark McLoughlinApril 30, 2020Page 2797-541that encroach on the State Highway System. Encroachment permits will beissued in accordance with Streets and Highway Codes, Section 671.5, “TimeLimitations.” Encroachment permits do not run with the land. A change ofownership requires a new permit application. Only the legal property owner orhis/her authorized agent can pursue obtaining an encroachment permit. Pleasecall the Caltrans Encroachment Permit Office - District 6: 1352 W. Olive, Fresno,CA 93778, at (559) 488-4058.797-5424. The F Street Station, as well as the new SR 204 / F Street interchange, will need tobe analyzed by the DEIR.797-5435. A Traffic Study is needed to assess the impacts to SR 58. The study should include20-year design life scenarios after completed construction of the interchanges.6. The Traffic Study should also include recommendations on the type ofinterchanges that will accommodate the 20-year design life.797-5447. Starting on Page 3.2 to 3.22, a range of Average Annual Daily Trips (AADT) islisted for each SR described to be within the project’s vicinity. District 6 requestsclarification on where these numbers were derived from the TransportationConcept Reports (TCR), as most of the TCR data are in excess of more than 5years old.797-5458. District 6 also requests clarification on whether there was consideration on theimpacts from HSR regarding goods movement transportation.797-5469. It is recommended the High-Speed Rail Authority consider leasing out thetracking rights during off-peak hours for the movement of freight. This wouldreduce some of the rail-freight congestion over the Tehachapi Mountains. Iffreight on high speed rail was moved during non-peak hours, the impact of thecurrent saturation rail freight movement over the Tehachapi Mountains would berelieved for possible conventional rail passenger traffic. Also, truck traffic overthe Tehachapi Mountains and the Grapevine Passes would be greatly reduced.If you have any further questions, contact Scott Lau at (559) 445-5763 orscott.lau@dot.ca.gov.Sincerely,ORIGINAL SIGNED BY LORENA MENDIBLESLORENA MENDIBLES, ChiefTransportation Planning - South“Provide a safe, sustainable, integrated and efficient transportation system to enhance California’s economy and livability”California High-Speed Rail AuthorityBakersfield to Palmdale Project Section Final EIR/EISMay 2021Page 21-7

Chapter 21 Response to Comments from State Agencies Received After 4-28Response to Submission 797 (Lorena Mendibles, Department of Transportation, April 30, 2020)797-539797-542The commenter requests that the analysis identify impacts to the State Highway Systemand appropriate mitigation measures. Caltrans facilities within the Transportationresource study area (defined in Section 3.2.4.1) include SR 58, SR 184, SR 223, SR202, SR 14, SR 138, and U.S. Route 395. An operations analysis of these CaltransThe commenter states that the F Street Station, including the SR 204/F Streetinterchange, must be analyzed by the Bakersfield to Palmdale Project Section EIR/EIS.The F Street Station and the SR 204/F Street interchange were analyzed in the Fresnoto Bakersfield Section Supplemental EIR/EIS and approved by the Authority as thefacilities was conducted according to the methodology set forth in the Guide for thePreparation of Traffic Impact Studies (Caltrans 2002). Additionally, determination for theneed to signalize currently unsignalized intersections was conducted according to themethodology set forth in the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices(Caltrans 2014a). The traffic analysis summarized in Impact TR #6 in Section 3.2.6.3 inSection 3.2, Transportation, in the Draft EIR/EIS and this Final EIR/EIS includes anevaluation of impacts and identification of mitigation measures for Caltrans facilities.Because California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15064.3CEQA lead agency in October 2018 and by the Authority as the NEPA lead agency inOctober 2019. That analysis is incorporated by reference and is not repeated in thisFinal EIR/EIS.states that automobile delay is not a significant environmental impact, however, theimpact is not identified as significant under CEQA.797-540The commenter states that further environmental studies may need to be conductedprior to issuance of an encroachment permit for Caltrans right of way. The Authority797-543The Transportation Technical Report and the Transportation Technical ReportSupplement (Authority 2018b and 2019) provide extensive analysis of SR 58 for severalscenarios, including a future horizon scenario of 2040. For most of the length of SR 58,the project has no effect on this roadway facility as it runs parallel to SR 58 or passesover SR 58 along a grade separation provided by the project. However, the projectproposes to relocate a portion of SR 58 east of Bakersfield, including the interchangesof SR 58 with South Edison Road, Comanche Road, and Towerline Road. A detailedtraffic analysis of these interchanges was conducted. This analysis, which isrespectfully disagrees with this comment. The Draft EIR/EIS provides sufficient detail inthe description of the alternatives in Chapter 2, and in the environmental analysis indocumented in the Transportation Technical Report, indicated that the existinginterchange type and traffic controls will provide level of service D or better trafficconditions for the Horizon Year of 2040. The project will also affect SR 58 during theChapter 3, to fully disclose the environmental impacts of the alternatives. The Authoritywill continue to work closely with Caltrans as a CEQA responsible agency to attainapproval and permitting of any aspects of the HSR project over which Caltrans holdsconstruction phase, when SR 58 from Broome Road to E Tehachapi Boulevard will beused as a haul route. Table B-2 in the Transportation Technical Report Supplementindicates that SR 58 is expected to operate at level of service A in the AM and PM peakjurisdiction.hours with the addition of construction trucks. Refer to Impact TR #1 and TR #2 in797-541Section 3.2.6.3 of the Final EIR/EIS for a discussion of circulation and roadway impactsduring construction. Refer to Impact TR #6 in Section 3.2.6.3 of this Final EIR/EIS for adiscussion of circulation and roadway impacts during operation.The commenter notes that an encroachment permit is needed for any proposedactivities within state right-of-way and provides contact information. Chapter 2, Section2.9, identifies Caltrans as a responsible agency under CEQA and notes thatencroachment permits from Caltrans are anticipated. The Authority will continue to workclosely with Caltrans as a CEQA responsible agency to attain approval and permitting ofany aspects of the HSR project over which Caltrans holds jurisdiction.May 2021Page 21-8California High-Speed Rail AuthorityBakersfield to Palmdale Project Section Final EIR/EIS

Chapter 21 Response to Comments from State Agencies Received After 4-28Response to Submission 797 (Lorena Mendibles, Department of Transportation, April 30, 2020) Continued797-544Traffic data for state highways was obtained from the Caltrans Traffic Census Programdata for 2014 (accessed on April 11, 2016; Caltrans 2014b). It was used to describebase year traffic conditions for 2016. The general trend of traffic patterns in the studyarea between 2014 and 2016 was moderate growth in traffic. The traffic analysis forfuture scenarios (beyond 2016) was conducted using the Kern Council of Governmentsand Southern California Association of Governments regional travel demand modelsand these models have incorporated projected growth in traffic levels in the study area.797-545Information on goods movement is provided in Section 3.2, Transportation, of this FinalEIR/EIS. Section 3.2.5.2 contains a section about existing truck routes. In addition,Section 3.2.5.5 provides information on existing statewide rail transportation and Section3.2.10 provides information on existing freight rail service. Impacts of thePreferred Alternative on trucks hauling goods were analyzed as part of the operationalanalysis of roadways in Section 3.2.6.3 of the Draft EIR/EIS and this Final EIR/EIS.797-546The commenter suggests leasing track rights for freight during off-peak periods torelieve existing freight movement capacity constraints on traditional freight rail lines andhighways. The suggested approach seeks to relieve an existing capacity problem notcaused by the HSR project and it is not necessary to address an adverse impact notcaused by the B-P Build Alternatives. The purpose of the HSR system in theBakersfield to Palmdale Project Section is to serve as a dedicated passenger railnetwork that will connect communities, eliminate existing passenger rail gaps, anddecrease passenger rail demand on existing shared passenger and freight rail lines.Leasing rail lines to freight in off-peak hours would require tie-ins to existing freight andpassenger rail lines that do not exist within the design or footprint of the project.California High-Speed Rail AuthorityBakersfield to Palmdale Project Section Final EIR/EISMay 2021Page 21-9

Chapter 21 Response to Comments from State Agencies Received After 4-28Submission 840 (Julie Vance, Department of Fish and Wildlife (Central Region), August 25, 2020)DocuSign Envelope ID: EEBBDE8C-60E0-4ODD-9A3D-9B5063DB3BDBState of California – Natural Resources AgencyDEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFEBakersfield - Palmdale - RECORD #840 DETAILStatus :No Action RequiredRecord Date :9/2/2020Affiliation Type :State AgencySubmission Date :8/25/2020Interest As :State AgencySubmission Method :LetterFirst Name :JulieLast Name :VanceProfessional Title :Regional ManagerBusiness/Organization :Department of Fish and Wildlife (Central Region)Address :1234 East Shaw AvenueApt./Suite No. :City :FresnoState :CAZip Code :93710Telephone :(559) 243-4005Email :Primavera.Parker@wildlife.ca.govCell Phone :Email Subscription :Add to Mailing List :YesEIR/EIS Comment :NoAttachments :840 CADFW letter 082520 Original.pdf (401 kb)840 CADFW letter 082520 Original.pdf (206 kb)Central Region1234 East Shaw AvenueFresno, California 93710(559) 243-4005www.wildlife.ca.govGAVIN NEWSOM, GovernorCHARLTON H. BONHAM, DirectorAugust 25, 2020Mark McLoughlinDirector of Environmental ServicesCalifornia High-Speed Rail Authority770 L Street, Suite 620 MS1Sacramento, California 95814Subject: Supplemental Comments on Appendix 3.7-B: Potential AdditionalSection 1600 Resources Memorandum (Appendix 3.7-B) for CaliforniaHigh-Speed Rail Project, Bakersfield to Palmdale Section (Project) DraftEnvironmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Study (DEIR/EISSCH No. 2009082062Dear Mr. McLoughlin:840-950The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) received an email on July 23,2020 from the High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) regarding the above-referencedProject giving CDFW an opportunity to review and comment on Appendix 3.7-B. CDFWresponded on July 24, 2020 informing the Authority that Appendix 3.7-B was reviewedby CDFW and considered during the DEIR/EIS comment period and providedcomments were generalized in the April 28, 2020 comment letter.This letter provides additional CDFW comments and is supplemental to the April 28,2020 DEIR/EIS comment letter conveyed to the Authority. These comments do notchange or alter the previous comments provided.CDFW has previously commented on applicability of Fish and Game Code Section1600 et seq. during environmental consultation for the Bakersfield to Palmdale Sectionincluding: Biological Aquatic Resource Technical Report (BARTR) workshop for theBakersfield to Palmdale Section March 2, 2017. CDFW provided draft meeting minutes on March 29, 2017 in response to theMarch 2, 2017 BARTR workshop. Section 1600 Workshop for the Bakersfield to Palmdale Section on April 4, 2017.Conserving California’s Wildlife Since 1870May 2021Page 21-10California High-Speed Rail Au

Response to Submission 828 (Derek Higa, CalTrans District 7 Division of Design, June 17, 2020) - Continued. Chapter 21 Response to Comments from State Agencies Received After 4-28 California High-Speed Rail Authority Bakersfield to Palmdale Project Section Final EIR/EIS May 2021