Comments on: A Closer Look At Gilroy

By: timote

timote — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:43:59 +0000

“Outsiders have to accept that Gilroy’s resisted sprawl and added higher density homes and live work developments in downtown. We’re trying to keep the town alive, not move it to a larger parking lot.”

Hmmm. I don’t live in Gilroy, but I’ve been there frequently over the last decade or two as my in-laws live there. If Gilroy is resisting sprawl, they have a really weird way of doing so – I’m looking at you Eagle Ridge, Best Buy/Lowe’s/Costco, Target/B&N/PetSmart/Kohl’s, etc.

Not that I’m particularly enthused about extending the sprawl but at least in Gilroy, unlike many of the areas previously discussed on this blog, there are options with greenfield not too far from downtown.

By: AndyDuncan

AndyDuncan — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 22:08:13 +0000

Well, one more reason to pick the shinkansens for the rolling stock and japanese-style sound walls on those aerials. The Fastech 360s may have failed in their attempt to run at 360km/h while keeping trackside noise under 75dba, but they were able to run them at 330kph and still keep trackside noise under 75dba. Previous studies found about 2dba per 30kmh speed increase, so you’re still talking less than 80dba at 360km/h. That’s quieter than a city bus and quieter than the freight rail and caltrain trains that are going through there now. Not quite “thundering”.

By: Clem

Clem — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:31:52 +0000

What is a vitrine and where can I find a real example of one, outside of idealistic blogosphere chatter?

By: Clem

Clem — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:27:23 +0000

The good citizens of Gilroy have no idea about what they’re clamoring to have downtown. They simply haven’t the first clue of how loud and disruptive HSR will be; I can think of no better way to ruin a downtown, other than building an airport runway within walking distance of the Starbucks. It makes no sense.

The HSR people are not being up front about the noise and vibration impacts of very very high speeds. The non-stop trains will either THUNDER through, or all trains will be slowed to reduce the impact, effectively turning Gilroy (pop. 51,000) into a speed bump for the entire statewide HSR network. It makes no sense.

The only thing keeping the downtown option alive right now is some goo-goo-ga-ga feel-good talk about Transit Oriented Development. What a joke.

By: Alon Levy

Alon Levy — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:44:32 +0000

This is not true. On the federal level, both Greater LA and the Bay Area run tax/spending surpluses of about $40 billion each; the rest of the state takes in more money than it pays, especially Sacramento and the Central Valley. San Diego is a tax recipient as well, barely.

By: AndyDuncan

AndyDuncan — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:34:15 +0000

Here's the CHSRA's "noise and vibration impact criteria.

By: jimsf

jimsf — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:09:22 +0000

Mark my words…. bart will, at some point, fulfill their goal of world domination. you’ll see.

By: AndyDuncan

AndyDuncan — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:07:47 +0000

Hmm, I was looking at the old ones. My bad. I do agree with your general sentiment that a station in Gilroy is going to be a park-and-ride facility serving a large section of the central coast, and doesn’t really need to be downtown. But if Gilroy is clamoring to have it downtown…

The Authority really needs to come up with some noise/vibration impact standards and then design accordingly. I seem to recall a study from them years ago on noise impact of various types of structures and trains, but I haven’t seen anything since.

By: jimsf

jimsf — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:05:53 +0000

Dont even go there. southern california gets almost all the states money and gets everything they want all the time. meanwhile the northern california infrastructure is still in the 1970s. do not go there……. for reals….. we can’t get a damn thing up here and when socali wants something, whether its a freeway lane or interchange or more water or anything they get it. they have all the political power in this state. even bart and the new bay bridge combined dont come anywhere close to what socal has in terms of huge chunks of the states pie.

By: jimsf

jimsf — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:01:18 +0000

well, yes but you dont have to set the train samck ontop of it, but along side it.- just sayin, theres an established, cleared, straight row there. but with all that “nothing but sand” out there, guess it doesnt matter where they put it.

Im sure going to consider buying a place in palmdale though