Art Lewellan: Merced should be in rail plan, but it should cross the Altamont

Re “Hopes brighten for passenger rail” (Page 1A, April 22): As a rail transit advocate since 1992, I’m satisfied with the number of new regional light rail lines built to address noxious traffic, despite the political contentiousness that muddies public discourse. Discussion about California’s high-speed rail system proposal seems likewise as clear as mud.

Neglecting Merced in the first phase makes little sense given the eventual extension to Sacramento and reaching the more immediate junction with the Altamont corridor. Neither an upgraded ACE commuter-rail nor BART Livermore can adequately increase transit service in the Altamont corridor. Moreover, the much lower population density along the Pacheco route seems more suitable for ACE commuter or regional rail.

Electrifying the Altamont corridor would complement electrification of the Peninsula while creating additional HSR route, San Francisco-to-Sacramento. The CaHSR Authority leaders and loyal adherants dismiss the Altamont corridor as thoughtlessly as Merced is still neglected with a single-track compromise. The HSR Altamont corridor serves the far greater need. The HSR Pacheco corridor will enable more sprawling subdivisions that increase car-dependency and worsen traffic throughout the Bay Area.

Is worsened traffic what political leaders and associated business interests really want?

This story was originally published April 25, 2016 at 1:14 PM with the headline "Art Lewellan: Merced should be in rail plan, but it should cross the Altamont."