High Speed Rail
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) proposes a high-speed train (HST) system for intercity travel in California between the major metropolitan centers of Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area in the north, through the Central Valley, to Los Angeles and San Diego in the south. The HST system is projected to carry as many as 117 million passengers annually by the year 2030. The Authority adopted a final business plan (Business Plan) in June 2000, which examined the economic viability of a train system capable of speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour (mph) (322 kilometers per hour [kph]) on a fully grade-separated track, with state-of-the-art safety, signaling, and automated control systems. You can view the Authority’s website at http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov..
After completing the program environmental process, the Authority has begun working with local governments, transportation agencies, and private parties to identify right-of-way preservation needs and protective advance acquisition opportunities consistent with state and federal authority requirements.
The Authority will ultimately determine the alignment of the HST tracks throughout California. This alignment presently includes the Gilroy vicinity along with a high speed train station. The Authority has proposed several track location alternatives for preliminary consideration and released a Draft Alternatives Analysis in the spring of 2010. Though the ultimate decisions rest with the Authority regarding train route and station locations, it is important for city of Gilroy residents to review the information prepared and submitted for public review by the Authority .
The implementation of HST through Gilroy will necessarily change Gilroy in many ways. The Authority indicates that a Gilroy HST station will require parking for approximately 6,000 vehicles as passengers from the Monterey Peninsula, San Benito and portions of Santa Clara counties drive to Gilroy to board trains. While this may bring increased economic opportunity, the location of HST tracks and their construction method will impact our community. Accordingly, it is important that both the city and you, our residents, communicate your desires to the Authority. You can view the Authority’s website at
http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov.. You are strongly encouraged to follow the informational postings on this site, attend city council meetings when the topic of high speed rail is discussed and to closely monitor the Authority website as well.
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