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Uploaded: Thursday, September 10, 2009, 9:31 AM
Updated: Thursday, September 10, 2009, 12:00 PM

Rail teach-in Saturday moved to Cubberley
Big advance signup exceeds capacity of Palo Alto City Hall council chambers

Posted by Paul Berry, a resident of the Adobe-Meadows neighborhood, on Sep 10, 2009 at 10:41 am

I long to hear intelligent discussion of this important issue, and hope this forum will permit it. And I hope that these on-line comments will not become clogged --as discussions have too often in the past-- with cynical snarky sniping.

Posted by Faith Brigel, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Sep 10, 2009 at 10:58 am

"designed to teach Peninsula residents about the design process for the $40 billion project, and about high-speed rail systems in general."

Is it just me? Describing this workshop this way makes me think that it will be biased FOR the HSR. I am planning to go. But, I have already studied the design process of the HSR that the HSRA had decided will go through the Caltrain corridor just off Alma Street, even prior to the last election. My understanding is that by the end it will cost much more than $40 Billion. Most of us understand the HSR system in general, it is more whether it will be elevated or tunneled and more important to me the location that is of concern.

The location was changed to Cubberley Community Center.

Posted by billy, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Sep 10, 2009 at 11:19 am

For or against HSR is already settled. This workshop is about how to built it right.

Posted by wary traveler, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Sep 10, 2009 at 2:37 pm

The workshop will be what attendees make of it. If you ask the right questions, you can learn what the full set of options are. The mantra isn't "BUILD it right", it's "DO it right". This could include moving the alignment, moving the route, or even terminating service in San Jose. Just like tunnels eventually caught on, there's a groundswell of support for each of these other options. Pick your flavor -- as is, under here, over there or not at all -- and you're sure to find like-minded people. Nothing is set in concrete - yet.

Get involved, and keep in mind while listening to the presentations that you don't have to accept the status quo. If you feel strongly about this project, seek out the community leaders who support your views - they could use your help.

Posted by Faith Brigel, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Sep 10, 2009 at 4:06 pm

wary traveler,

Thank you for your post. I agree with you. It is not a done deal. It is not shovel ready. The HSRA want us to believe that it is just about building it right- but it is about doing it right and as you wrote that could very well mean stopping it at San Jose, or using the Altamont Pass.

Posted by Midtowner, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Sep 10, 2009 at 4:20 pm

Making HSR stop in San Jose is a PERFECT way to make it fail. It makes sense only if it goes on to San Francisco. It's as if instead of going all the way to Los Angeles it was made to stop in the San Fernando valley. San Francisco has to be the final destination to make it worthwhile for most of its potential travelers.

BTW I'd love to have the peninsula stop in Palo Alto. Apparently Redwood City citizens want it in Redwood City. They must know how convenient it would be to be able to hop on the train in their own town and make it so SF or LA or other destinations in record time.

Posted by Downtowner, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Sep 10, 2009 at 5:04 pm

Huh? Biased FOR HSR? What are you talking about? There was a ballot measure for LA-to-SF high speed rail. It was approved. A high-speed rail line gets built, and they're holding a teach-in to involve citizens in figuring out the details. And Faith, just because you *want* hsr to stop in SJ or use Altamont pass does not mean that's an option.

It's not a question of whether you're for or against high-speed rail. HSR is happening, and the question is: Are you going to sit on the sidelines and pout, or make your voice heard?

Posted by Jim H., a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Sep 10, 2009 at 9:24 pm

I would love to see it done right. Don't see how the numbers will work, but it seems like the trendy thing to do is to throw money at anything and hope it sticks to something.

But, to say that it's a done deal just because it was voted on is not true. There have been past HSR projects voted on in FL and TX that were thrown out or rescinded.

Even here in good old Palo Alto, I remember voting on a fee increase to solve all of our storm drain problems and 2 years later, the city determined there wasn't enough money and cut most of the proposed improvements.

The "teach in" is probably another PR event where no real answers are given. I'm sure when you ask about tunneling, the answer will be "nothing has been ruled out". But, that's not entirely true if you listen to Diridon and Co.

Just sad that the politicians are going to screw it up.

Posted by Floyd, a resident of the Green Acres neighborhood, on Sep 11, 2009 at 10:32 am

Do it right! I have a hard time imagining 125mph through Palo Alto.

Maybe I'll be living somewhere else when the first shovel hits the dirt.

There's always hope.

Posted by get_involved, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Sep 11, 2009 at 12:11 pm

A community "teach-in" is a good thing. There is a lot to learn and understand about the positive and negative impacts of this project. Kudos to the PCC for organizing this event. No one else seems to be doing anything similar.

Here's the agenda with bios for the speakers:

Web Link

Looking at the agenda, you'll see the speakers and their backgrounds represent a balanced perspective - this does NOT seem to be designed to be a marketing session. Of course, everyone can see for themselves by attending the event. It is my understanding it will be video taped and put on the PCC website.

And for those that are convinced that there shouldn't be a train at all - then get involved (don't just comment). There are groups out there that support your ideas - find them and pitch in. They may even be at the Teach-In - so seek them out and find out what you can do to change things. Democracy is NOT a spectator sport.