(Watch about halfway through for a treat.)
I’ve commented in the past on the tenor of the San Jose Good Neighbor sessions. When talking about the ballpark, opposition was present albeit mild. When it comes to the high speed rail project, well, it’s practically Katy bar the door. The largely critical attendees at tonight’s session had plenty of questions about the project’s impact on adjacent residential neighborhoods, including Cahill Park, St. Leo’s, and Gardner. The story, at least when it comes to HSR, is a sadly familiar tale. To conserve costs and get the project built as quickly as possible, the High Speed Rail Authority wants to build several stretches of aerial or elevated tracks down the Peninsula down to and through San Jose. The new Diridon station platform, which would be only a few hundred feet from Cisco Field, would be 60 feet above the ground, with a roof perhaps 30 feet or more above that. Last week, Palo Alto chose to get out of consideration for its own HSR station, leaving Redwood City and Mountain View as possible locations.
Possible tunnel alignments for high speed rail at Diridon Station
In San Jose, residents fought the rubber-stamping of an aerial alignment, which led the Authority to consider several underground options. All have pros and cons, and all are more expensive than an aerial.
- Light blue: Deep Tunnel option. Tracks would be bored or “mined” 140 feet underground. Existing light rail and future BART would run between the tunnel and the surface. Cost: $3 billion. Option was dismissed because it was considered impractical (though not infeasible).
- Purple: Shallow Tunnel. A massive cut-and-cover operation would occur between The Alameda and Park Avenue, disrupting the area’s light rail line and the ballpark because the alignment cuts right through the northeast block of the ballpark site. BART tunnel would also have to run deeper than originally planned. Construction time would be 5-7 years, which means that the affected area couldn’t be developed until perhaps 2020 or thereabouts. Option was considered too disruptive, City won’t go for it.
- Yellow (5100′) and White (Thread the Needle). Both of these options were floated by a residents’ group interested in locating the new HSR platforms underneath the existing Diridon station and platforms. Both would run underneath the southwestern corner of the ballpark site. These were dismissed because they were considered dangerous for existing rail services (Caltrain, ACE, Amtrak, UPRR Freight, VTA Light Rail), particularly the danger of collapse.
To the attendees’ collective chagrin, the Authority’s project principals told the crowd that the best option moving forward would be the aerial alternative. Look at the risk assessment table below and you’ll see why.
The subject of compensation for lost property values came up, and the discussion wasn’t pretty. I doubt that the Authority is budgeting for a massive amount of cash payouts to homeowners in every affected city statewide, as the combined value of the settlements would absolutely kill the already astronomical budget while providing no actual value for the project. HSR has a difficult battle on its hands, given that several Peninsula cities have banded together in the same cause. The funny thing is that there’s an argument along the Peninsula that HSR would be best if it terminated somewhere in San Jose instead San Francisco, and I heard at least one argument tonight that HSR should terminate in some undeveloped land in South San Jose or even Gilroy. Either sounds great, as long as you don’t want people actually riding the thing.
Speaking of people not riding, the Authority chose Feds mandated that the Authority take the first $4.3 billion in federal and state funds and build the initial segment in the Central Valley, between Merced and Bakersfield via Fresno. That section will be the cheapest to build in the entire system and have the highest attainable speeds. In addition, maintenance and testing facilities are expected to be built in the area. Beyond those funds, additional money will have to come from the 112th Congress, whose House of Representatives will have a Republican majority that is normally transportation funding averse.
If they ever get these alignment questions and NIMBY issues settled, there’s a chance that the train could look like that animation at the top. Kind of strange, though, that San Jose would get a distinctive, skyline-worthy bridge within city limits; a bridge that could only be used by trains.
Some other notes:
- The animation is the first I’ve seen that shows both the Plant 51 and Cahill Park developments as they are. Previous images and videos showed generic buildings.
- The ballpark shown is also generic, as it doesn’t appear to have the same seating bowl shape as new Cisco Field renderings.
- Again, I don’t know what the buildings are between HP Pavilion and Cisco Field. For all we know, it’s a blank slate.
- San Jose Economic Development head Paul Krutko, a noted power-behind-the-throne for the ballpark project among others, abruptly resigned earlier today. I’m not an insider, so I have no idea what happened. What I do know about Krutko is that he wasn’t always the easiest guy to work with. The article hints at different kinds of scandal that could be catching up with him. Whatever the case, his services in terms of keeping the ballpark project alive and on the radar haven’t been needed in at least a year.
- After a lackluster home playoff game versus the New York Red Bulls, the Earthquakes staged a furious rally and beat the NY 3-1, including the series clincher – a beautiful header by MLS leading scorer and Danville native Chris Wondolowski. That combined with the 1-0 loss over the weekend gives the Quakes an aggregate lead in goals scored, and thus a series victory (I can see eyes rolling as I write this). Next up: either Columbus or Colorado a week from now. Hey Lew – Build them the damned stadium already.
newballpark.org 
nice to see those projecting a new park in downtown sj. feeling more confident by the day we a’s fans have our own celebrating before the end of the year.
how long would it take to build the eqs their new soccer venue? if the timeline for a new mlb park is on average about 2.5 years, then would it take maybe half the time to build that new stadium?
A couple of things:
– Looks like the Fresno ->Merced->Bakersfield line is being built first. Not really sure why because those are really sparse populations. The feds sometimes….sigh.
– As a long time SJ resident, the HSR project really excites me, but I’m hoping the rail is much more discrete in implementation. I’d rather not see those suspension bridges run through the heart of downtown and tar the clean skyline.
@ST – The segment was chosen by the CAHSR Authority, not the federal government. Once the money is doled out, the state can do with it what it sees fit. Personally, I’d prefer they figure out a way to get working trains going, then build a visitor center. Seeing real trains running at 200 mph could be a major part of selling HSR to the public.
As for the bridges, the City wants something “iconic.”
Great game by the Quakes. One of the franchise’s best in their 15 year history nearly on par with their first round miracle against LA in 2003. I agree on the $60 million dollar stadium, as has been the Quakes fan chant to Lew all year, “BUILD IT NOW!”
The iconic bridge is a nice additon—you seem simliar structures in Europe—prefer they make it even more iconic—although my preference would be to underground it through downtown–
agree with ML–get a segment built and than build out the ends–gives SJ a little extra time to get it right also–as a footnote–China has or is building 11,000 miles of high speed rail–US–0 to date–
ML–any status on the Autumn Pkwy reconstruction? As I recall this will happen regardless–why not begin the work near-term…or are they waiting on federal dollars?
There is construction work being done on the north end by Target where the train tracks are. The rest of the project, which will include a realignment of the road north of HP Pavilion, hasn’t started yet.
I like the idea of a bridge. It gives a somewhat plain skyline some interest.
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@ML – What’s your WAG as to whether HSR ever gets built (from SF to LA/SD)? Seems to me there are significant obstacles, the biggest being $$$.
ML – Thanks ML, that contradicts what the Merc was reporting:
“The California High-Speed Rail Authority announced Thursday that federal regulators are requiring the first $4.3 billion in stimulus funding to be spent on segments linking Fresno to either Merced, 50 miles north, or Bakersfield, 100 miles south….State officials originally wanted the first segment to be built between Los Angeles and Anaheim in Orange Count”
@ST – I could be wrong, that’s just how the Authority team seemed to represent it at the session.
@gmanca – There’s no immediate risk to business and residents as long as the tunneling goes smoothly. If it goes badly, there’s obvious disruption to say the least.
I’m reading the chart and am confused as to how there is high risk to existing foundations yet low business/residential impact with the Deep Tunnel option?
maybe one day I can get off work early in Santa Monica and catch a 7PM game of the A’s in San Jose. Then take the HSR back to southern california and have a drink with my friends to celebrate a win. imagine that…
off topic: East Bay Express is reporting Jean Quan has taken the lead in the Oakland Mayor’s race.
Sorry. Off topic also: Think it’s an ok idea to BART to the Coliseum tonight? I have tickets to the ‘Dubs.
ML – I’ve also seen it reported in a few places that the Feds made the funding contingent on building in the Central Valley first. Here’s one: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BATN/message/46985. I think it’s fine to start there for the reasons you stated. Plus it would be nuts not to connect it to the two big population centers at that point.
@Briggs – Yes. Just don’t go to Fruitvale or Downtown.
@all – Corrected.
@Briggs–I’m going to the ‘Dubs too. Leaving in 5 minutes. Me and my buddy will drive there in his beater and park off of 66th and walk to save on parking. It’s getting ridiculous now. It was cheap for years until the Raiders came back and it’s more than tripled.
Just saw the short Iconic Bridge video; couldn’t view it on my CrapBerry. Just plain awesome!
I was just in San Jose dropping some things off any my future mom-in-law’s. On the way past Downtown (s-bound 280), I was envisioning the sight of the faux-suspension bridge leading towards Diridon. I can’t speak for residents immediately surrounding the proposed suspension towers, but I think they’d be amazing. San Jose is seriously lacking in an identifiable landmark, especially one on this large of a scale. I think it could frame the Downtown skyline beautifully if executed correctly. I’m hoping SJ residents feel the same way.