Peninsula Rail Program Significance The Peninsula Rail Program (PRP) is a partnership formed between the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB), which is the managing body of Caltrain, and the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) in 2009. The PRP is of tremendous significance to Palo Alto because it is the managing body of HSR as it relates to the Peninsula. Therefore, the interaction that Palo Alto has with the PRP is crucial to Palo Alto's advocacy for HSR done right. Overview The idea behind the creation of the PRP was it would more effectively manage the dual process of bringing HSR through the Peninsula and improving Caltrain under the Caltrain 2025 modernization program. In April 2009, and amended in October 2009, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by the JPB and the CHSRA. This MOU protects Caltrain’s operations and provides funding for the modernization and electrification of Caltrain in return for allowing HSR construction and operation in the Caltrain corridor.

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As of July 2010 the CHSRA preferred alignment for the HSR project between San Francisco and San Jose is via the Caltrain corridor. As the HSR project moves forward, the design solutions for both HSR and Caltrain must take into account shared impacts and opportunities.

Leadership & Organization

The PRP partnership is run by a program director who reports equally to the JPB and the CHSRA as dictated by the PRP organizational structure.



Under the direction of the program director two additional groups were formed to provide local perspective and input to the PRP. The first is the Policymaker Working Group (PWG) and the second is the Technical Work Group (TWP).

Policymaker Working Group (PWG)

The purpose of the Policymaker Working Group (PWG) is to represent the interests of cities impacted by HSR by focusing on policy issues.

Serving an advisory role, the PWG is advocating for best practices in HSR design and Caltrain improvements. At the community level PWG members articulate community challenges, identify corridor issues and goals, share community resources, and help identify and evaluate solutions.

The PWG is also expected to advise the PRP through the Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) process by conducting on-going stakeholder engagement and working on feasible and achievable solutions.

Palo Alto Representative

Patrick Burt

patrick.burt@cityofpaloalto.org

        


     
Technical Working Group (PWG)

The Technical Working Group (TWG) represents the interests of cities impacted by HSR by focusing on technical issues. TWG members provide communication between local agencies (city staff, city councils, community stakeholders, etc.) and the PRP and CHSRA project teams. The responsibilities of the TWG include working collaboratively with the PRP and CHSRA, supporting local level problem solving, providing any technical analysis and recommendations of project deliverables, and creating corridor‐wide solutions on behalf of local agency interests.

Palo Alto Representative

Steve Emslie

steve.emslie@cityofpaloalto.org

Meetings

The Policymaker Working Group (PWG) meets the third Thursday of every month (with some exceptions) from 7:00 – 9:00 PM at various locations along the Peninsula.

The Technical Working Group (TWG) meets the third Thursday of every month (with some exceptions) from 4:00 – 6:00 PM at various locations along the Peninsula.

Click here to view the meeting schedule for both of these groups.