Recently, I have been contacted by residents who have concerns
about the California High Speed Rail project, including the two
proposed rail station locations in Gilroy.
By Supervisor Mike Wasserman
Recently, I have been contacted by residents who have concerns about the California High Speed Rail project, including the two proposed rail station locations in Gilroy. Since the county of Santa Clara is not in charge of state transportation projects, I invited the California High Speed Rail Authority to participate in a public meeting last week in San Martin to address your questions and hear your concerns.
By way of background, the California High Speed Rail Authority was established in 1996 to develop a high-speed rail system with service between northern and southern California. The rail project began in earnest when voters approved a $9.95 billion bond measure in 2008 (Proposition 1A) to begin building. Two of the 24 proposed stops are in Santa Clara County: San Jose and Gilroy.
Like many of you, I have been watching the process as it will have a significant impact on many residents and businesses. After last week’s meeting, which is the fourth of its kind I have attended, it is clear the Rail Authority does not yet have all the answers we want.
In fact, last week’s meeting ended with many of our significant questions regarding funding, ridership, environmental impact, eminent domain and noise remaining unanswered. It is understandable that when planning a project of this magnitude ($45 billion, 800 miles of track, 200-mph trains) that not all of the details can be known during the early planning stages.
However, if the Rail Authority is asking us to get on board and trust that the project will accomplish its goals, then we need to be given more to believe in. Asking questions is reasonable, and I will continue to push for more detailed information. To contact the California High Speed Rail Authority directly, call 1-800-881-5799, e-mail sa*************@****ca.gov or visit www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov
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Another hot topic for South County residents is redistricting. The geography of the five supervisorial districts could change this year after the Citizen’s Redistricting Commission completes the work of adjusting the boundaries based on the 2010 Census.
The commission is considering a number of proposals, which could have an impact on all county residents.
The legal requirements for redistricting are that the boundaries must maximize equal representation, minimize community fragmentation and avoid gerrymandering. The commissioners are also given a set of guidelines which include maintaining communities of interest and current district boundaries to the extent possible. I strongly encourage you to attend the next meeting, take a look at the maps and proposals, ask questions and voice your concerns so that South County continues to be well-represented. The next meeting takes place Thursday, April 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center El Toro Room, 17000 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill. This is the only redistricting meeting scheduled to take place in South County, but you can also attend other meetings and call or e-mail your input to Melissa Erickson who is the Redistricting Program Manager at 408-299-5172 or me**************@********ov.org.
Please visit my website at www.supervisorwasserman.org and feel free to contact me anytime with your comments, questions, or concerns. My toll free phone number from South County is 408-683-4115 and my e-mail is mi************@********ov.org
