The Voters said "Just Say Yes"

State Propositions (smartvoter.org) Proposition 1A Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Pass: 4,806,338 / 52.3% Yes votes 4,386,791 / 47.7% No votes To provide Californians a safe, convenient, affordable, and reliable alternative to driving and high gas prices; to provide good-paying jobs and improve California's economy while reducing air pollution, global warming greenhouse gases, and our dependence on foreign oil, shall $9.95 billion in bonds be issued to establish a clean, efficient high-speed train service linking Southern California, the Sacramento/San Joaquin Valley, and the San Francisco Bay Area, with at least 90 percent of bond funds spent for specific projects, with federal and private matching funds required, all bond funds subject to an independent audit? Additional article in the San Francisco Chronicle.

- Written by Fiona

Comments

Last night I dropped off my son at the movie theater in San Mateo. As I went to cross the tracks, the lights went on and a very fast-moving baby bullet train passed. It seemed to be moving too fast for the busy area and all I could think of was how the it would feel if it was the real bullet train moving at 100+ mph. I did not like the picture one bit.

When I think of what this means for Burlingame, I like it even less. Picture the tree-lined area between California Drive and Carolan as a big berm separating the City. Then try to picture the intersection of Broadway and the railroad tracks. I can't picture how we will run a high-speed train through our town and not have a huge impact. I hope our elected officials are paying attention and we insure that these "improvements" that will change our City forever are carefully thought out. My fear is that the concerns of our small City will be completely ignored in favor of a rush to spend the Bond money.

Before we consider electrifying Caltrain or spending large amounts on grade separation, I insist that we consider Bart as an alternative. A seamless system to circle the Bay as originally envisioned. Many critics point to the low ridership of the Millbrae extension and the money paid by SamTrans as a reason not to move forward. I point to this as the reason to do it. If Bart was extended to San Jose on the Caltrain right of way, it would become a huge part of north-south transportation in the Peninsula.

Now picture the same area between California Drive and Carolan with underground Bart. It could be made into a long park with many playgrounds, cafes, amphitheaters and safe pedestrian access. Even if it was elevated, the structures used in the East Bay are much less obtrusive than a berm like that in San Carlos and Belmont. What are our elected officials doing? Are we going to roll over and let this happen?

[Holy Roller]

What happened to the $300,000.00 grant the City of Burlingame recieved to plant 300 trees?

[Holy Roller]

BART is the best way to go.
Regardless, if a train is traveling 65MPH or 120 MPH it will still pass through our town and still hurt someone or something at any speed.

I too am getting increasingly concerned about the possible impact of a high-speed rail cutting right through Burlingame.

Will the newly, renovated Burlingame station be torn apart to accomodate high speed lines? How about the fact that Burlingame High School is right on the line and that students cross through there the station every day? Not to mention the noise impact associated with 100 mph trains with warning horns blaring as they scream through every railroad-street intersection.

Atherton, Menlo Park and other cities have started to organize their issues with this rail plan. I suggest that Burlingame do so as well.

[JROC]

No comments back then.

[Michael]

It makes no sense to be against HSR but for BART. The same grade separations are required. BART would be more expensive to build and would be just as disruptive. If HSR is "derailed", I would fight just as hard to derail BART. BART is a disaster. Just look at the cost over runs in the South Bay. They keep passing new taxes and cutting other transit services and they have gotten no where. At least HSR could take you somewhere. BART is slow inefficient, expensive and uses very old technology.

As for the new Burlingame train station, I saw this coming. I asked everyone involved why they were not building it with a passing track (a third track that was already there). No one seemed to really care. I will say Caltrain did a poor job preparing for HSR.