High Speed Rail Community Workshop
Sponsored by Citizens to Protect Redwood City (CPRC)
Veterans Memorial Senior Center
1455 Madison Ave.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Summary: A community workshop was held on September 9, 2009 to gather community member thoughts on High Speed Rail and Caltrain Electrification planning. An introduction presentation was made that describes the issues and opportunities. The community members participated in facilitated small table discussions. About 35 community members attended.
Approximately 2200 flyers were distributed to the community announcing the meeting. These were distributed at all Libraries, at the Redwood City Caltrain station, at Safeway in Sequoia Station, and in other community gatherings prior to the event. An email flyer was distributed through the City’s public relation office. An advertisement was printed in the Spectrum. The language of all promotion was carefully chosen to be neutral (not pro or con) to any of the questions that were being addressed so to encourage all views to participate.
General Observations:
Most of the attendees felt cautious enthusiasm for high speed rail. Cautious, since there were some options that would not be acceptable to the community.
Most of the attendees felt that a high speed rail station would be a good thing for Redwood City - again with the cautious concern for some options. While we did not take a formal vote, roughly 80% thought the station was a good idea, although some expressed a strong dissent.
Notable comments from the individual discussions (unfiltered comments are attached).
General Comments
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1)Many attendees wanted to dive deeper into the technical constraints and issues to better comment on options. (i.e. the soil issues for underground solutions, the slope constraints for HSR / freight service, an understanding of the benefits of freight service, earthquake safety of elevated tracks, an understanding of ‘stacking’ tracks and right of way needed, etc.)
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2)The facilitated workshop format was very good for conducting these kinds of discussions.
Track Alignment (above/below grade)
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3) Any HSR grade separation solution needs to be very “porous” allowing free access across the right of way and is not a berm or high walls. A good design would bring the city together.
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1)Underground: reclaim land, able to construct without surface disruption, minimal noise, does not divide City
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2)Trench & covered trench: may be less costly (depending on interruption to freight/caltrain)
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3)Stilts/Elevated: Sound issue, use of space under tracks
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4)At Grade and Berm would be unacceptable - too much of a division of city and not porous enough
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4) Undergrounding of tracks has benefits for the communities, but has scenic consequences for riders.
HSR Station
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5)There was concern about the traffic and parking associated with a HSR station. Some interest in parking remotely located from a station.
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6)Redwood City is considering ferry service at the port and linkage would help justify a station in Redwood City.
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7)A HSR station would be good for downtown business