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Whereas, the California High -Speed Rail Authority released its program -level Draft Environmental Impact Report/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIR/DEIS) in late January 2004 and held a series of public hearings on the document throughout the state. Whereas, the California High -Speed Rail Authority, based upon the comments it received during the public process on the DEIR/DEIS, decided in September 2004 to re-examine all of the potential alignment options for connecting the high-speed rail system between the Central Valley and the Bay Area. For this exercise, the authority identified a broad study corridor ranging from the Pacheco Pass in the south to the Altamont Pass in the north, excluding routes through or under Henry Coe State Park. Whereas, this review, which is expected to take 18 months to complete, provides another opportunity for interested parties to comment on how the proposed high-speed rail system should enter the Bay Area. Whereas, a Pacheco Pass alignment into the Bay Area for the proposed high-speed rail system will maximize ridership, minimize operating costs and ensure that Silicon Valley is well -served by the new high-speed rail line. Whereas, a Pacheco Pass alignment into the Bay Area, by utilizing the entire Caltrain Commuter Rail Service Corridor, will help Caltrain achieve several of its long-term goals, such as electrifying and grade -separating the Caltrain Corridor, and increasing Caltrain's speed and frequency. These benefits could not be achieved for the entire Caltrain Corridor by using the Altamont Pass alignment for the state's proposed high- speed rail system. Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Town of Los Altos Hills supports a Pacheco Pass alignment into the San Francisco Bay Area for the state's proposed high-speed rail system. Such an alignment would: • Maximize the number of trains serving the region's three largest cities—San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland. • Maximize the speed, frequency and ridership of the proposed high-speed rail system, thereby ensuring the system's long-term economic sustainability. • Minimize the operating costs of the proposed high-speed rail system. • Minimize adverse environmental impacts. • Follow an existing transportation corridor, rather than creating a new transportation corridor. • Not pass through or under Henry Coe State Park, or through land likely to be annexed into the park in the near future. Be it further resolved, that the Town of Los Altos Hills will communicate this position to the California High -Speed Rail Authority.