Review Emphasizes Negatives Of High Speed Rail

On Sept. 2, the final environmental impact report (EIR) for the San Francisco to Central Valley portion of the High Speed Rail (HSR) project was certified by the California High Speed Rail Authority. The EIR alluded to potential plans to run elevated tracks along the existing Caltrain lines through Burlingame. Since its Aug. 20 release, the revised final EIR has left Burlingame residents grappling with unaddressed environmental and logistical concerns.

These concerns are not new to Burlingame citizens. Burlingame Mayor Cathy Baylock addressed negative environmental impacts in an Aug. 17 letter to the multiple agencies that oversee the HSR project. The note also aimed to avoid aerial tracks, or what she compares to elevated freeways, from running directly through Burlingame. Others officials similarly made their voices heard against confirming the finalized EIR, but to no avail.

Underscoring city officials' resistance to certifying the EIR, Citizens for a Better Burlingame members distributed a flyer (uploaded below) expanding on the potential threats to the city, including environmental considerations:

• Visual Scar: The tracks will be approximately 90 to 100 feet wide and 24 to 26 high. Power poles will rise another 25 feet.

• Community Divide: The community will be divided at the tracks, separating Washington Park and Burlingame High School from the western portion of the city.

• Home and Business Property Values: Most likely, close visual or audio proximity to the HSR will negatively affect property values of homes and businesses.

• Pollution, Noise and Vibration: The frequency of both HSR and Caltrains will increase the cumulative impact of noise, pollution and vibration; noise from elevated trains will be higher than at trains at grade. Auto Row and other businesses will be impacted by the added noise.

• Toxic Waste: There are potential arsenic problems in front yard and adjacent tracks nears Burlingame High School.

• Eucalyptus Trees: Historic tree groves adjacent to tracks may be removed, including the Redwoods at Burlingame High School.

• Burlingame Train Station: HRS will have a visual and access impact to the historic station.

Burlingame resident and volunteer Stephen Hamilton said he is frustrated by the disruptions and visual impacts construction of the rail will have on downtown without significat benefits to outweigh the negatives. 

" There will be no direct benefit to Burlingame unless Caltrain gains the funds to operate a true commuter rail," said Hamilton. "[They should try] a collaborative engagement that gets stakeholders to understand each other's point of view and develop solutions that accommodate the parties' interests.  HSR has not engaged in a collaborative process in any way with the community."

 David Schonbrunn, president of the Transportation Solutions Defense and Education Fund (TRANSDEF), a group against the proposed HSR route, believes the negative impacts cited in the EIR are reason enough not to allow the HSR project to move forward, although he is not against a high speed train under the right circumstances.

"HSR is a project that is badly planned, unlikely to succeed, and likely to waste our one opportunity to get the transportation system we definitely need for the future," Schonbrunn said. "TRANSDEF believes that the simultaneous problems of global warming, rising oil and energy prices, and congestion require a strikingly different approach to transportation planning," he said.

Schonrunn said he believes a better route could be selected, from both financial and environmental standpoints. He stated that the High Speed Train project is not sustainable as currently constituted.

"The Authority Board has consistently exhibited poor judgment," he said. "This could change, however, with a different structure and different personnel."

At this juncture, the negative impacts of the current elevated design of the HSR remain. Residents of Burlingame look to be in a fight to find new ways to  save their city from the HSR as it currently stands.

Want to get involved? Here is a list of HSR Citizen Groups:

Transportation Solutions Defense and Education Fund
TRANSDEF High-Speed Rail

Californians Advocating Responsible Rail Design (CAARD) - CARRD is a grassroots, volunteer organization focused on getting information out to the public and encouraging an open and collaborative process.

Californians For High Speed Rail (CA4HSR) is a grassroots, statewide coalition of high speed rail supporters advocating for the high speed rail project.

Community Coalition on High Speed Rail is a grassroots, nonprofit corporation, based on the San Francisco Peninsula that is working through public advocacy, litigation and political action to make sure the proposed California high speed rail project doesn't adversely affect the economy, environment or quality of life in California's existing communities.

Don't Railroad Us - This group of concerned citizens is dedicated to helping educate the community about the California high speed rail project.

High Speed Rail - Peninsula Rail Engagement Project (HSR-PREP) - Based in Burlingame, HSR-PREP is a high speed rail education and awareness outreach group for the Peninsula.