After poring over preliminary plans Monday for a high-speed rail
station, the Gilroy City Council said they wanted more.
After poring over preliminary plans Monday for a high-speed rail station, the Gilroy City Council said they wanted more.
More drawings, more cost figures, more information period.
The council held a study session Monday to discuss the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s early plans for what a rail station in Gilroy could look like. The council focused on the CHSRA’s at-grade design, in which the train would roll into town at ground level, forcing the construction of overpasses to allow the flow of traffic, according to station renderings.
The Council’s response was overwhelmingly negative, though council members agreed there was a lot left to be done.
“There’s no way we could accept such things coming to our city,” Mayor Al Pinheiro said of the at-grade plans. “We completely agree that this is just not acceptable.”
Other council members agreed.
“Of course my answer now would be no way,” Councilwoman Cat Tucker said. “Of course it’s not the whole picture.”
Several in the Council said Monday they wanted a trenching option, in which the train could travel below ground level.
Pinheiro even offered an ultimatum.
“It’s trenching or else,” Pinheiro said.
With the at-grade option, traffic overpasses larger than the Sixth Street – Highway 101 bridge would need to be constructed, City Transportation Engineer Don Dey said.
Dey said the CHSRA would welcome the city’s input.
“This is just the first option they’re looking at,” he said. “They’re looking for feedback from the city.”
