Alternatives for high-speed rail fail to fully study tunneling through Burlingame and running along local highways in addition to not identifying impacts to properties that may be subject to eminent domain, according to a draft letter from Mayor Cathy Baylock.
On Monday, the Burlingame City Council will review and discuss a letter to the High-Speed Rail Authority regarding the preliminary alternatives analysis released earlier this year. The 10-page letter stresses Burlingame’s preference for the rail to be placed either underground or elsewhere. Impacts on the historic Burlingame train station as well as visual changes to the city are not explored, the letter said.
Burlingame asserts the report only provides basic information but lacks key information on the following: Tunneling; a route along Highway 101; projected noise and vibration levels; visual impacts; cost estimates for the right-of-way and construction easements; economic impacts to Caltrain during construction; construction timing for each alternative; impacts to historic resources like the train stations and trees; and how contaminated soil will be handled.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority is planning a route with electrified bullet trains traveling from Los Angeles to San Francisco. It received a significant boost when voters approved a $9.95 billion bond in November 2008. The announcement of $2.25 billion in federal stimulus money is speeding up the planning process with environmental review completed by September 2011.
The plan has generated controversy in the San Jose-to-San Francisco segment because of the space requirements of running the line on the already-tight Caltrain corridor.
At the same meeting, the council will consider changing the municipal code to allow five additional food establishments — which could be anything from a bar to a full-service restaurant — in portions of the Burlingame Avenue commercial area.
In 2009, the council voted unanimously to allow five new full-service restaurants to be added on Burlingame Avenue between Primrose Road and El Camino Real; Park Road and Lorton Avenue between Burlingame and Howard avenues; and Primrose Road between Burlingame and Chapin avenues, according to a staff report.
One year later, no new businesses have opened, resulting in expansion of the area in which new businesses could open to include the west side of California Drive south of Burlingame Avenue. In addition, the type of business allowed could be expanded from full-service restaurants to include limited-food service, like a take-out only facility and bars.
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