Gilroy owes a thank you to California High-Speed Rail Authority
Board member Rod Diridon. He fought off
– for now – a staff recommendation to shelve any possibility of
a covered trench running through downtown Gilroy for the bullet
train stop planned here.
1. Rod Diridon, thankfully, kept the most palatable station option alive
Gilroy owes a thank you to California High-Speed Rail Authority Board member Rod Diridon. He fought off – for now – a staff recommendation to shelve any possibility of a covered trench running through downtown Gilroy for the bullet train stop planned here.
That option is the only palatable one if the bullet train is to run through our downtown core. Elevated tracks would be a terrible eyesore and the noise level would be insufferable.
2. One option would be to place the station east of town near the 660
As discussion ensues and information about the bullet train possibilities surfaces, two clear options come to light:
-A covered trench downtown that would not support heavy building structures of any kind, but could become a promenade with grass, kiosks and open space.
-A bullet train route that would bypass downtown altogether and swing out east of town into the area known as the “660” – the number of acres that have been zoned for future industrial development.
A covered trench with all the trimmings might be a pipe dream since the cost associated with such a project is high and the city’s ability to pay is very low. Would the HSRA commit to becoming a full-fledged partner and help Gilroy figure out how to engineer and pay for such a project? It’s not clear.
But a route that bypasses downtown could be a huge missed opportunity for our city’s core and would likely result in significant development in an entirely new area. Plus, there would not be a direct connection between the Gilroy Caltrain station and the bullet train. That makes little sense.
All this is being sorted out in a whirlwind fashion now after years of speculation. What’s clear is that the city must get out in front of this issue, sort out the options and advocate for what will serve Gilroy best.
3. City Council should strongly consider hiring a contract planner
There are not many decisions or issues that can have a profound long-term impact on our city, but this is one.
Think about it. The 800-mile California High Speed Rail system is slated to have routes from San Diego to Sacramento and to the Bay Area, transporting passengers at speeds of up to 220 mph. A 123-mile stretch from Merced to San Jose would run through the Pacheco Pass with a proposed station in Gilroy. Riders could travel the distance of the route in 45 minutes. The economic impact could be tremendous to downtown Gilroy. It could also ruin the esthetics forever if done improperly.
The Council should strongly consider contracting with an experienced planner to investigate all the options and present the Council with alternatives. It’s too big an issue not to do something dramatic about.
If Gilroy hesitates any longer, our city will simply get run over by the train that’s coming down the tracks at 220 mph.
