Post by bennyp81 on Jun 15, 2005 13:31:53 GMT -8
Bart Reed
User ID: 1606604 May 6th 8:08 AM
Palo Alto Daily News: Monday, May 5, 2003
Affluent town vows to fight plans for high-speed rail line
By Nina Wu
Daily News Staff Writer
If they build it, Atherton town officials vow that they will fight it.
Plans for a high-speed rail line from San Fran-cisco to Los Angeles, which would make use of the Caltrain right-of-way between San Francisco and San Jose, poses a threat not only to the town's peace, but to its integrity, council members said at a recent transportation committee meeting.
"My hunch is we're in for a future fight," council
member Alan Carlson <acarlson@ci.atherton.ca.us> said during the town's regular meeting.
Although the reality of the high-speed train may still be another 20 years away, it alarms Ather-
ton's leaders because the tracks would be too close to residential properties for comfort--and it might cleave the town in two. That, in turn, might lead to violations of police and fire codes.
In a presentation to Atherton town officials on April 8, Caltrain spokesman Darrell Maxey re-vealed the transit system's plans, complete with aerial maps and diagrams.
In order to accommodate the high-speed train service, Caltrain would need to build two addit-ional tracks in Atherton to meet the required four tracks along the corridor as well as grade-level separations at every station.
But the town does not want grade separations -- meaning an overpass or underpass or combination of the two -- breaking up the town. The other option is to make the roads a dead end at the train station, Maxey said.
"If you look at the amount of room needed for grade separations, how could some people get into their driveways or enter the park at Fair Oaks?" Carlson told the Daily News.
"My fear is that because of the expenses involved and the physical nature of the surroundings, closing those crossings would cut one-third of Atherton from the other two-thirds."
Carlson said that four tracks would need a mini-mum width of 65 feet to accommodate them -- and that would mean the train stations would be within 7-1/2 feet of several Atherton residences.
A different grade
Maxey said the federal government is pushing for grade-level separations at all train stations.
Grade-level separations are supposed to reduce noise and traffic congestion and increase
pedestrian safety. He added that Atherton has plenty of room to accommodate four tracks.
"California's going to be growing in population and economy," Maxey said. "There is a need for transportation 20 years from now to answer the question of how everyone is going to get from San
Francisco to Los Angeles.
On the Peninsula, the goal is to get people out of their cars and to provide them with a viable
transportation alternative."
At the Atherton station, Caltrain plans to replace
the center platform with outboard platforms and install a central fence and pedestrian gates at Fair Oaks. Construction would begin sometime in the summer or fall of 2004.
The other question is how much it would cost. When Carlson mentioned to Caltrain that the town didn't have enough to pay for the required
changes, he said Caltrain's response was: "We'll find the money for you."
Not only would the new high-speed service ruin the
town's aesthetics, Vice Mayor Kathy McKeithen
said, it would increase pollution, considering that diesel freight trains use Caltrain's tracks.
"It's something we will monitor and report back on," McKeithen <kmckeithen@ci.atherton.ca.us> said. "These plans are somebody's pipe dream."
Eyes on Menlo Park
Council members are keeping a close eye on what its neighboring town, Menlo Park, decides to do. Menlo Park considered grade separations 10 years ago and rejected the idea, but is now recon-sidering it. Palo Alto has grade separations at University Avenue, Embarcadero Road and the Oregon Expressway.
Despite a 15 percent decline in ridership, Caltrain plans to improve its services in upcoming years with more trains, faster trains,
additional tracks, improved stations and a Baby Bullet express from San Francisco to San Jose.
The Baby Bullet train, which will have possible stops at Mountain View, Palo Alto and Millbrae, is slated to be operational by 2004.
Atherton town officials are not as concerned about the Baby Bullet train because it will not require additional tracks or grade separations. But they'll be watching.
"We want to be prepared," Carlson said. "We want to be aware of the impacts and hopefully be able to mitigate any impacts on the town."
[BATN: Related items: groups.yahoo.com/group/BATN/message/11561
High Speed Rail Authority: www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov
Atherton City Council: www.ci.atherton.ca.us/council.html ]
Þ-Þ-®-Þ-Þ
User ID: 1606604 May 6th 8:08 AM
Palo Alto Daily News: Monday, May 5, 2003
Affluent town vows to fight plans for high-speed rail line
By Nina Wu
Daily News Staff Writer
If they build it, Atherton town officials vow that they will fight it.
Plans for a high-speed rail line from San Fran-cisco to Los Angeles, which would make use of the Caltrain right-of-way between San Francisco and San Jose, poses a threat not only to the town's peace, but to its integrity, council members said at a recent transportation committee meeting.
"My hunch is we're in for a future fight," council
member Alan Carlson <acarlson@ci.atherton.ca.us> said during the town's regular meeting.
Although the reality of the high-speed train may still be another 20 years away, it alarms Ather-
ton's leaders because the tracks would be too close to residential properties for comfort--and it might cleave the town in two. That, in turn, might lead to violations of police and fire codes.
In a presentation to Atherton town officials on April 8, Caltrain spokesman Darrell Maxey re-vealed the transit system's plans, complete with aerial maps and diagrams.
In order to accommodate the high-speed train service, Caltrain would need to build two addit-ional tracks in Atherton to meet the required four tracks along the corridor as well as grade-level separations at every station.
But the town does not want grade separations -- meaning an overpass or underpass or combination of the two -- breaking up the town. The other option is to make the roads a dead end at the train station, Maxey said.
"If you look at the amount of room needed for grade separations, how could some people get into their driveways or enter the park at Fair Oaks?" Carlson told the Daily News.
"My fear is that because of the expenses involved and the physical nature of the surroundings, closing those crossings would cut one-third of Atherton from the other two-thirds."
Carlson said that four tracks would need a mini-mum width of 65 feet to accommodate them -- and that would mean the train stations would be within 7-1/2 feet of several Atherton residences.
A different grade
Maxey said the federal government is pushing for grade-level separations at all train stations.
Grade-level separations are supposed to reduce noise and traffic congestion and increase
pedestrian safety. He added that Atherton has plenty of room to accommodate four tracks.
"California's going to be growing in population and economy," Maxey said. "There is a need for transportation 20 years from now to answer the question of how everyone is going to get from San
Francisco to Los Angeles.
On the Peninsula, the goal is to get people out of their cars and to provide them with a viable
transportation alternative."
At the Atherton station, Caltrain plans to replace
the center platform with outboard platforms and install a central fence and pedestrian gates at Fair Oaks. Construction would begin sometime in the summer or fall of 2004.
The other question is how much it would cost. When Carlson mentioned to Caltrain that the town didn't have enough to pay for the required
changes, he said Caltrain's response was: "We'll find the money for you."
Not only would the new high-speed service ruin the
town's aesthetics, Vice Mayor Kathy McKeithen
said, it would increase pollution, considering that diesel freight trains use Caltrain's tracks.
"It's something we will monitor and report back on," McKeithen <kmckeithen@ci.atherton.ca.us> said. "These plans are somebody's pipe dream."
Eyes on Menlo Park
Council members are keeping a close eye on what its neighboring town, Menlo Park, decides to do. Menlo Park considered grade separations 10 years ago and rejected the idea, but is now recon-sidering it. Palo Alto has grade separations at University Avenue, Embarcadero Road and the Oregon Expressway.
Despite a 15 percent decline in ridership, Caltrain plans to improve its services in upcoming years with more trains, faster trains,
additional tracks, improved stations and a Baby Bullet express from San Francisco to San Jose.
The Baby Bullet train, which will have possible stops at Mountain View, Palo Alto and Millbrae, is slated to be operational by 2004.
Atherton town officials are not as concerned about the Baby Bullet train because it will not require additional tracks or grade separations. But they'll be watching.
"We want to be prepared," Carlson said. "We want to be aware of the impacts and hopefully be able to mitigate any impacts on the town."
[BATN: Related items: groups.yahoo.com/group/BATN/message/11561
High Speed Rail Authority: www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov
Atherton City Council: www.ci.atherton.ca.us/council.html ]
Þ-Þ-®-Þ-Þ