High-Speed Rail: Will it Unite or Divide our Community?

Submitted by JamesJonas on Thu, 04/16/2009 - 01:40

Focus

This website focuses on the High-Speed Rail segment from San Jose to San Francisco.

Evaluating the Options

To give you a peek into how the CHSRA (California High-Speed Rail Authority) evaluates the different options, take a look the Anaheim to Los Angeles Section - Alternatives Analysis Report here> http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/images/chsr/20090602162631_Agenda%20It...

Impacts

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 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 foot wide moat. Finally, an underground tunnel faces potential cost of $100-500 million per mile, which may conflict with the ‘fiscal responsibility’ provisions of the California bond measure. What this means is that all the options on the table are either cost prohibitive or will divide our cities and towns here on the peninsula. When given a basket of lemons, it's time to spin up the juicers.

California High-Speed Rail: S.F. South Bay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJhM3BpBPp8

Tunnel + Trench = Hat Trench

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 Hat Trench. Please see: Hat Trench

+ =

Trench (Reno) Tunnel (metro) HAT Trench

Redwood City Station

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