I agree with Gilroy City Councilmember Zach Hilton that regarding the long term, Gilroy should be included in planned passenger/commuter rail improvements and service by the Amtrak Capitol Corridor and Caltrain (Gilroy Dispatch Guest View, July 28).
In the short term, we currently have an Amtrak train, the Coast Starlight that passes through town twice a day, southbound to Los Angeles and northbound to Seattle. This train also makes numerous stops in between the two cities. With minimal improvements, there is no reason this train could not make a stop in Gilroy.
He is correct in stating “political will” gets in the way and both the Gilroy City Council and VTA should follow the Transportation Agency for Monterey County’s example and put more effort into making it an Amtrak stop.
Just recently, voters in Santa Cruz County defeated Measure D which if passed would have doomed the historic Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line between Watsonville and Santa Cruz. Thankfully, common sense prevailed and hopefully this vital transportation entity will see the return of passenger rail service in the future.
The time is now to think train.
Gary V. Plomp
Gilroy
