KHTS has a good report on Mayor Marsha McLean’s comments before the California High Speed Rail Authority’s board of directors this morning in Downtown LA:
The City Council is concerned that our community is significantly impacted by the proposed high-speed rail line and yet, none of the negative impacts are alleviated in the form of providing benefits to the residents of Santa Clarita.
“The rail line comes at grade through neighborhoods located in the eastern areas of Santa Clarita and the visual blight of the rail line and fencing for a dedicated right-of-way will only add to the noise and vibration of the trains, which will be felt by our residents.
McLean went on to say that the proposed alignment (visible in the map above) would cross spaces purchased with our Open Space money and that at-grade rail alignments would cut off wildlife corridors.
All very valid concerns.
Of course she lead off with the concerns about the at-grade rail line that would run “through neighborhoods located in the eastern areas of Santa Clarita.” That, of course, is referring to Sand Canyon, the wealthy/ranchy/horsey area of the City preferred by the more discerning elites of this town (as opposed to the Nouveau Riche who think living in West Ridge is something special).
As you can see in the map, the proposed alignment of the train would largely be underground for much of the southern and eastern SCV. But once the train tracks hit the Sand Canyon area, they’ll be at grade (meaning on, not under or over, the ground).
Metrolink and Union Pacific already run through this area at-grade, but those trains travel at less than 80 mph. California’s HSR, in contrast, is designed to travel at 200+ mph, and this would require building extensive fencing & barriers along the rail corridor.
As a big supporter of HSR and someone who hates flying, I’m really bummed we won’t have a stop in Santa Clarita and I’m sympathetic to the argument that building it through here is a net negative. But the fact of the matter is there will be a train stop just over the hill in Sylmar, many commuters in the Antelope Valley will prefer to ride this fast train to downtown LA or Burbank rather than drive on our Highway 14 and, like it or not, Santa Clarita is in a strategic place for the entire state.
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