Public Gets Glimpse of High-Speed Future, Suggesting Tweaks

Imagining the development that would sprout up around a future high-speed train station in Gilroy became a little easier Wednesday night.

Members of the city’s in-house station study unveiled photo simulations during a public workshop of how proposed station areas might look when the system reaches full operation in 2035.

The renditions, based on concepts proposed during a workshop in June, depicted ways that the city might seek to encourage development near either a downtown station or a location east of the Gilroy Premium Outlets.

Each possible location is still on the table for the California High-Speed Rail Authority. While the authority has the final say, the agency has said that Gilroy’s study will play a significant role in influencing the decision.

Wednesday’s public workshop–the third held as part of the Gilroy High-Speed Train Station Visioning Project–gathered final suggestions from the public before project members proceed with a more detailed, financial impact analysis of each possible location and station configuration, said project manager Jeff Williams.

“We want to make sure that each option gets a fair shake,” said David Early, founder of the consulting firm enlisted for the project, Design, Community & Environment.

By teaming with the public to envision the future impact of the two possible locations and station configurations, project members said they intend to develop a consensus among residents. The Gilroy City Council is expected to vote on the proposal later this year before sending the heavily researched suggestion to planners at the rail authority.

“There’s going to come a time when we ask you and the city council ‘Which one of these is best?’” Early said.

Based on the input from the June workshop, members of the visioning project presented four alternatives (the full presentation will be made available on the project Web site): 

Downtown “At Grade”

• Trains would run on a slightly-elevated track that might include the raising of the Caltrain/Union Pacific line and an elimination of all railway crossings and train whistles in the city. All streets that currently cross tracks would still cross.
• The station will be located near the current Caltrain station.
• Suggested development included additional retail near Monterey and 10^th streets, with a large parking garage in the area.
• Other parking garages dispersed around the downtown, with possible parking for downtown visitors as well.
• A “public green” east and west of the tracks

Downtown “Trenched”

• Trains would run in a deep trench. Caltrain/Union Pacific tracks are unlikely to run in the trench as well, and railroad crossings would remain intact. All streets that currently cross tracks would still cross.
• The station will be located near the current Caltrain station.
• Proposed development included hotels, tightly clustered parking structures and significant development south of 10^th street.
• Partial covering of the trench, with public areas built on the proposed covers. Covering the entire trench is prohibitively expensive.

East of Outlets “At Grade”

• Trains would run on a slightly elevated track.
• The station would be located east of the outlets, partially in the agriculturally fertile “660” area.
• Proposed development included significant surface parking, structure parking, hotels, a convention center and a “public green” west of the station.
• Leavesley and other roads would be significantly enlarged.

East of Outlets “Aerial”

• Trains would run on a highly elevated track that would allow cars and pedestrians to pass under without modifying the level of the roadway.
• The station will be located east of the outlets, partially in the “660” area.
• Attendees at the June workshop suggested significant development in this alternative, an option that would include the creation of hotels, parking, a major park, housing, shopping and offices. Much, if not all, of the 660 area would be developed.

Project members reminded the public that the proposals represented a nearly 30-year view of a future Gilroy. Development could occur in a number of ways, but the proposed alternatives would help the community and the council to determine the best recommendation for the rail authority.

Concepts added for consideration included the higher risk of flooding in the 660 area, the cost of losing agricultural land, the proximity of parking garages to the stations, connection to Caltrain, the financial impact on the downtown and if a convention center would be popular in Gilroy. 

Project members plan to release an “existing conditions report,” “FAQ” and online survey on their Web site this month. A fourth workshop in September will narrow down the public’s “preferred vision” before a council study session in October, said Williams, project manager.

The visioning project was funded by a $150,000 grant from VTA and a $50,000 contribution from the city. High-speed rail service is expected to be operating out of Gilroy in 2025, connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles.