In early-August, the California High Speed Rail Authority released the Supplemental Alternative Analysis (SAA) on the alignment of high-speed rail through the peninsula. This report is a continuation of the process of refining the manner in which high-speed rail will travel through the peninsula.

The SAA report indicated that the preferred alignment through Redwood City is an aerial structure, four-tracks-wide. The arguments for this alignment include: CalTrain operations would be least impacted, reduced need to purchase additional properties, avoidance of creeks (Redwood Creek, Cordelleras Creek), and less cost.

I appreciate the fact that CHSRA has narrowed the list of potential alternatives that they are willing to review. Until recently, there were just too many moving parts to be able to commit resources to explore, examine, review, estimate and engineer.

However, now it is our turn. As a community, we need to develop a vision of what we want regional and state-wide transportation to look like in 2025/35. If San Mateo County and the peninsula cities could have resolved BART in the 1960’s, we would not be having a conversation about high-speed rail today. BART would ring the entire Bay Area. BART would have been far less expensive to build then, than it will be today, there would be greater frequency in trips, greater reliability, and high-speed rail would be stopping at a multi-modal station somewhere in the South Bay.

I think it is a safe to predict that the world in 2025 will be different than it is today. Our challenge is to create a vision and a plan for regional and state-wide transportation, and to define Redwood City’s role.

This Fall, there will be a series of meetings in Redwood City. Some of these meetings will be hosted by CHSRA and the Peninsula Rail Board and will discuss the potential of a high-speed rail station in Redwood City. Other meetings will be hosted by the City, and will work on developing a transportation vision for Redwood City. Our efforts will involve a detailed examination of the aerial alignment proposed by CHSRA, the impacts and consequences of being aerial, examine “Redwood City-centric” solutions to high-speed rail and discuss whether we should have a high-speed rail station in our downtown.

I hope to see you at these meetings!

— Jeff Gee, Redwood City Councilperson