The Gilroy Chamber of Commerce’s government relations committee
recommended Friday that the chamber form a subcommittee that
specifically focuses on the California High-Speed Rail project,
which would run through Gilroy. The chamber board will formally
vote on the matter when it meets Tuesday.
The Gilroy Chamber of Commerce’s government relations committee recommended Friday that the chamber form a subcommittee that specifically focuses on the California High-Speed Rail project, which would run through Gilroy. The chamber board will formally vote on the matter when it meets Tuesday.
The California High-Speed Rail system, which high-speed rail officials expect to be fully operational by 2020, is slated to have routes from San Diego to Sacramento and 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. The entire rail project is estimated to cost $42.5 billion.
The rail authority has recommended various route options through Gilroy including running the tracks just east of the Union Pacific tracks through downtown Gilroy, running the east of U.S. 101 or running them next to the Union Pacific tracks through part of Gilroy and then cutting east of U.S. 101.
Ben Strumwasser, regional outreach manager for the San Jose to Merced section of the high-speed rail project, told attendees at Friday’s meeting that the California High-Speed Rail Authority must complete a final alternatives analysis of various train routes by June.
The rail authority has given quarterly updates to the chamber’s government relations committee, which meets once a month.
City Administrator Tom Haglund, who attended the chamber meeting, urged community members to be vigilant about providing input.
“Inaction means we may end up with something that doesn’t benefit (Gilroy) the way that it should,” he said.
