Merced residents will be able to get a sneak peek at and provide input on early design concepts for a California High Speed Rail station to be built downtown during an open house event next month.
Briana Vaccari
merced focus
Merced’s station is different from other stations in the San Joaquin Valley because Amtrak’s San Joaquin Railroad and Altamont Commuter Express trains all connect in one location.
High Speed Rail Authority officials will bring a 3D printed model of the station’s preliminary design to town on Thursday, May 2nd. HSR staff will give a short presentation about your design project and answer your questions. Residents can provide feedback through comment cards, laptops and tablets.
Merced leaders have long expressed strong support for the project, claiming it would transform the city and region.
“We’re excited to have high-speed rail become a part of our community,” Merced Deputy City Manager Frank Quintero said recently at the Merced City Council. Because it’s the only station that does that.”
Construction of America’s first bullet train has not yet reached Merced, but the station will be the northern terminus of the first 171-mile stretch through the San Joaquin Valley, starting in Bakersfield in the south.
The Fresno Bee reported that the latest cost estimates for construction of the first segment ranged from $29.8 billion to $32.9 billion. In this project, passenger transport will take place from 2030 to 2033.
For more information, please see the event flyer here.
The station will be a two-story building
Preliminary design renderings show the Merced station, bordered by 15th and 16th streets and O and R streets, will have two distinct levels. Renderings show his ACE Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad thoroughfares at ground level, as well as above-ground platforms for high-speed rail and Amtrak trains.
The theory behind the design is to allow passengers to take high-speed rail from Bakersfield to Merced, walk across the platform, and transfer to an Amtrak train to go to Oakland or Sacramento, HSR said. Chief Transportation Planner Ben Lichti said in an interview. Equipped with Merced Focus.
“I think the opportunity for Merced to have these different rail lines working together is exciting. That’s what sets it apart from other Central Valley stations,” Lichti said.
Related article: Coach Merced and others criticize the failure of the “Triple Crown race”, making it a hot topic…
Previous designs have also featured connections to other transport modes, including parking, connections to local bus services and accessible accommodation for people with disabilities.
In addition to 3D printed models, the May 2nd event will also feature design renderings that may evolve over time. Lichti emphasized that these designs are not final and approved designs will likely require additional environmental review.
“Residents should come to this event because they love Merced, they love the community, they’re excited about the connection to California and what high-speed rail will offer the city of Merced and the region,” Lichti said. said.
“The high-speed rail project is a long-term project, and the input we’re getting now has a real opportunity to influence and influence transportation in Merced and transportation in California for decades to come.”
About the author
Brianna Vacari is the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative’s accountability director and government watchdog reporter.