Printer-friendly versionHatTrench 
Drawings: 
Right-of-Way 
Community Workshops 
San Francisco to San Jose Preliminary Alternatives Analysis Report Comment
June 30, 2010
Summary of Comments
Alternatives
The Alternative Alignment which is in the best interest of residents and cities by mitigating sound, sight, right-of-way, and community impacts is the Dual Stack Cut & Cover Trench/Tunnel (Dual Stack). Citizen teams at community workshops universally disliked the Aerial Alternative because of sight and sound impacts. Although the Deep Bore Alternative (HSR Only) does not seem to add any benefit to communities over Dual Stack, I feel it still warrants further study as several cities have shown an interest in this option and it will provide a robust comparison to Dual Stack.
Cost Mitigation
I request that CHSRA include analysis and design for several cost saving alternatives, including:
- two-track/shared track,
- two-step project,
- single or zero Caltrain track shoofly,
- open now/cover later trenches [Trench Caps],
- unification of HSR/Caltrain platform/station design and
- exploring a partnership with BART.
A BART partnership, as a needed Caltrain contingency plan, allows cost sharing via a DeepStack (HSR/BART Dual Stack in single 19m bore) or a Dual Bore Tunnel.
Community Value
Please include analysis and designs for several options that may expand community benefits, including those that lower sound/sight impacts, creating new community spaces on covered trenches and integrate with a potential local and intercity streetcar system. Furthermore, we believe the CSS (Context Sensitive Solutions) process, community presentations and cost estimates provided via the CHSRA may have hampered or even biased decision making. We therefore request a more independent CSS process, detailed cost estimates and peer review of documents. Furthermore, we request that the CHSRA fund city and county outreach, workshops and engineer resources.
See Comment Dual Stack Cut & Cover Trench/Tunnel contained in the CHSRA Alternatives Analysis for the SF-SJ Segment. Trench may be covered or open. Originally proposed in public comments to the CHSRA (April, 2009). This website focuses on the High-Speed Rail segment from San Jose to San Francisco. This visual simulation illustrates possible design options for High-Speed Rail on Alma Street in Palo Alto between Peers Park and Churchill Ave.
Mountain View's City’s urban designer Freedman Tung Sasaki prepared conceptual drawings of how the various High Speed Rail alternatives might look at Castro Street and Rengstorff Avenue. These drawings are posted in the Public Works Department lobby at City Hall, 500 Castro Street. Source: http://www.mountainview.gov/city_hall/public_works/high_speed_rail.asp The design of the High-Speed Rail track grading will have a significant impact on the communities between San Jose and San Francisco. An above-grade design may result in a 20 foot wall, 75 (or more) feet wide which transects our cities. At-grade, meaning level with the street, requires an unbroken fence, with no at-grade crossings, which means local traffic must go over or under. A standard trench design creates a 75 (or more) foot wide moat. Finally, an underground tunnel cost a lot, but does little to improve the quality of life, since CalTrain/freight are still at-grade or worse, moved to a noisy above-grade structure. Aerial generates a BART like projection of sound/sight impacts over miles. What this means is all the standard Alternative Alignments either/or divide our cities and towns, create more noise and visual impacts and take land from residents and businesses. When given a basket of lemons, it's time to spin up the juicers. We are strong supporters of the public transit system and are delighted to see the HSR (High Speed Rail) project moving forward. We recommend the CHSRA (California High-Speed Rail Authority) investigates a grade strategy for the San Jose to San Francisco segment using a two-tiered tunnel (HSR & BB lower, Local & Freight upper), where the upper tier may be opened to the air, in what we call a HatTrench. If right-of-way permits, then a four track trench/tunnel (covered or open trench) may be considered. Please see: HatTrench Trench (Reno) Tunnel (metro) HatTrench Please see: HatTrench Concept Drawing Please see: HatTrench in Alternatives Analysis If CHSRA decides to construct a station in the heart of Silicon Valley, we believe Redwood City is the best choice in terms of freeway proximity, community support, station construction flexibility and general access. Redwood City offers a new award winning downtown, a potential multi-model transit hub (nearby regional airport, ferry terminal [planned], bus, auto and CalTrain) and is the seat of county government. As a resident of Redwood City, I say give us a look. You will be pleasantly surprised. Please see: Station Selection: Palo Alto versus Redwood City Redwood City Downtown - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8Nlu8UMkF4
Video outlines administrations vision for High-Speed Rail. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0gpaVwcKyI
What is HatTrench?
Why HatTrench:
SJ-SF Segment
Preliminary Alternatives Analysis Report
(a brief guide provided by Redwood City)
(on that page, scroll down to "Alternatives Analysis")
Evaluating the Options
Palo Alto
Mountain View
Castro Street with HSR At-Grade
Castro Street with HSR Above-Grade
Castro Street with HSR in Trench
Castro Street Section Underpass
Castro Street Elevation Aerial Structure
Rengstorff Avenue with HSR At-Grade
Rengstorff Avenue with HSR Above-Grade
Rengstorff Avenue with HSR in TrenchImpacts
Tunnel + Trench = HatTrench
+
=
Redwood City Station
Obama Supports High Speed Rail
