High-Speed Rail Authority suggests a new site for Merced train station
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- HSRA proposes Southeast Merced site to cut costs and shorten construction time
- Proposal avoids downtown displacement and preserves McCombs centers on 15th
- Council orders 45-day review before location change
Merced residents will have to wait a while longer for clarity on whether and where they can expect to see a high-speed rail station in the city.
On Monday, the City Council heard updates on the plan for a Merced station.
Peter Whippy, chief of external affairs for the California High-Speed Rail Authority, asked the City Council to consider a Southeast Merced site rather than the original proposed location in downtown Merced.
It is the most recent update since a report in September suggested Merced might be cut from the high-speed rail track entirely.
The HSRA proposed the new location on the basis of reducing the disruption to downtown businesses, as well as saved costs and a faster timeline of construction. According to its estimation, building the station in Southeast Merced will save billions of dollars and shave two to three years off construction time.
The Southeast Merced site also would eliminate the need for the McCombs Youth Center and Senior Community Center to relocate from 15th Street, where the original downtown station was to be built.
Merced residents share concerns
Merced residents shared concerns about how the change might impact the city’s efforts to revitalize downtown Merced. Additionally, in order to change the location of the planned station, SB 198, which allocated funds to the project, would need to be amended because it named the downtown site.
While Merced Mayor Pro Tem Sarah Boyle expressed support for an immediate vote on the change of location, the City Council debated the need for further analysis.
Councilmembers Fue Xiong and Shane Smith expressed the need for community input on the issue, with Smith reminding everyone of the town hall meetings this week on Jan. 13-14.
The council voted 5-2 in favor of having the transportation committee gather more information from city staff, county partners and the HSRA about the issues raised at the meeting. The committee plans to return with a proposal within 45 days.
“We don’t even know how to think about the problem yet,” Smith said, explaining his motion to gather further information, “so I think what I want to do is just try to crystallize what it is we’re talking about and then get community input.”