i have not had a chance to try it out but in the patch notes its listed that exploration treaty's are now limited to 1 per faction
if i understand this right it means that i can only have 1 active exploration treaty at a time.
as someone who plays mainly large maps with lots of A.I it can be difficult to meet enough players to start the U.P.
what i propose is a communication treaty that can be attained fairly early in the game.
this treaty would allow you to essentially make contact with any race that the race you have a treaty with has made contact with.
for example if im playing as the Yor and the first race i meat... 
is the drengin and make a com treaty with them and the drengin have meet the alterians i instantly get access the alterians. if five turns later the drengin eat the torians i also get to meet them