 |
|
|
|
Graphic courtesy of the VTA
Residents are assured light rail extension will be good
By Adam Taggart
Representatives from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority offered updates on the Vasona Light Rail Project and addressed questions from the local community during two public meetings Feb. 26-27.
Campbell residents kept the VTA speakers on their toes throughout the meetings, raising concerns about the pollution, safety and capacity of the planned service.
Unknown to many Campbell residents, the project is already under construction. A planned extension of the current VTA Light Rail System, which runs north up the Peninsula from downtown San Jose, the project will run west for 6.8 miles through Campbell and terminate, eventually, in Los Gatos.
The first part of the project will extend light rail service to Winchester Boulevard at the Campbell-Los Gatos border. The first trains are expected to begin running in 2005.
Despite the far-off date for its inaugural voyage, the project has many residents feeling anxiety in the here and now. Exhibiting a healthy display of "great idea, but not in my backyard" irascibility, Campbell residents living along the planned route were vocal in their displeasure of the construction plans.
Fears ranging from intolerable noise pollution, blocked views and graffiti to blocked intersections buzzed from the audience. VTA spokespeople fielded and refuted each as they arose, using an arsenal of field study data and schematic blueprints.
An environmental impact study commissioned and recently released by the VTA claims that noise pollution and visual impact from the light rail will be insignificant.
"Light rail is much quieter than the freight trains which run down the same corridor," said Tom Fitzwater, VTA environmental planning manager. "And a strict car-cleaning regimen, use of multi-surface visual designs on soundwalls and facilities, and a dedicated 48-hour-response team will keep graffiti to a bare minimum."
Much of the vitriol from the audience was directed at the overcrossing planned for the proposed station at Hamilton Avenue, near Bascom Avenue. Many angry neighborhood residents asked why an undercrossing hadn't been designed, instead.
Steve Fisher, senior transportation planner for the VTA, maintained that an undercrossing is unfeasible for that location.
"There's simply not enough space there," explained Fisher. "Digging there would require the VTA to build a grade gentle enough for light rail trains to climb up, which would require us to move the location for the planned station far down the line. There's no room to do that either."
"Besides," he continued, "there's a 66-inch water main buried along the route there. No one wants us to start messing around with that."
Both Fisher and Fitzwater appeared comfortable when fielding questions about safety from the crowd. They cited the VTA's experience with transporting large volumes of people to big events, such as the San Jose Jazz Festival.
"It's the perfect mode of transportation for area events like Oktoberfest or Prunefest," said Fisher.Fisher, Fitzwater and the other VTA members in attendance periodically reminded the audience that Campbell residents had voted for the Vasona Light Rail Project, and that overall support from the community is high. They were quick to add that area Campbell Council member Jane Kennedy is also vice-chairwoman of the project.
"In fact, anyone with further concerns about this project would be best served by contacting Council member's Kennedy's office," quipped Fisher.
Campbell Public Works Director Bob Kass has been working closely with VTA on the project, as well.
Fisher also reviewed the primary mission behind the project: to offer reliable, safe, high-quality transport to West Valley commuters and travelers that will serve to stimulate commerce within the townships along the route.
For more information about the Vasona Light Rail Project, contact the VTA Community Outreach service at 408.321.7575.
|
|
|
|
Campbell, California
