November 2008
California voters pass Proposition 1A, the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century, authorizing issuance of $9.95 billion of general obligation bonds to partially fund a statewide high-speed rail system.
Winter 2009
The California High Speed Rail Authority begins the scoping process as part of the project- level environmental review for the San Jose-San Francisco project section. The number of tracks, vertical alignment, and horizontal alignment, among other factors were major issues raised by the City of Palo Alto and other communities along the project section.
July 2010
Palo Alto City Council authorizes appointment of a 17-member task force to generate a community vision for land use, transportation, and urban design opportunities along the Caltrain corridor, particularly in response to improvements to fixed rail services along the tracks through Palo Alto.
November 2010
The Palo Alto Rail Corridor Study is initiated as a component of the city’s response to planned rail investments along the Caltrain rail corridor, specifically the California High Speed Rail project, and potential modifications to Caltrain operations.
April 2011
U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, State Sen. Joe Simitian, and State Assemblyman Rich Gordon officially propose the “blended system” approach for the Caltrain corridor consisting of a primarily two-track system shared between Caltrain and future California High Speed Rail trains.
August 2011
California High Speed Rail Authority technical peer review group supports principles identified in the blended system proposal.
April 2012
California High Speed Rail releases the Revised 2012 Business Plan, proposing Silicon Valley to Merced as the initial operations segment for high speed trains, and adopting the blended systems and operations approach for the San Jose-San Francisco segment along the Caltrain corridor. The blended system along the Caltrain corridor was described as “primarily a two-track system that will be shared by Caltrain, high-speed rail service, and current rail tenants.”
May 2012
The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain) approves the Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project.
July 2012
State Legislature passes Senate Bill SB1029, providing high speed rail funding for construction of the “blended system” as defined in the Revised 2012 Business Plan.
January 2013
State, regional, and local agencies establish a regional funding memorandum of understanding to support the blended system, which was further defined as “remaining substantially within the existing Caltrain right-of-way and will accommodate future high speed rail and modernized Caltrain service along the Peninsula corridor by primarily utilizing the existing track configuration on the Peninsula.
Palo Alto Rail Corridor Study approved by Palo Alto City Council.
May 2013
Agreement signed between the California High Speed Rail Authority and Caltrain.
November 2013
City Council authorizes Hatch Mott McDonald to proceed with an analysis delivering a conceptual cost estimate for a range of preliminary grade separation alternatives south of the California Avenue Caltrain Station. This work would become the 2014 Palo Alto Grade Separation and Trenching Study.
October 2015
As part of a study session, the Palo Alto City Council reviews Palo Alto Grade Separation and Trenching Study and discusses the report findings.