About 1,500 Santa Clarita Valley residents booed, clapped and cheered as Santa Clarita hosted a meeting Monday night at Canyon High ostensibly to decry the high speed rail plan.
Representatives from Santa Clarita, San Fernando, Acton and Agua Dulce — the areas where officials feel their cities could be most adversely affected by the proposed routes — banded together to express opposition to any of the “western alignments.”
“In each of the major corridors, there are currently several alignments under study,” said Mike Murphy, intergovernmental relations manager for the city of Santa Clarita. “The (decisions) that are made this summer are going to be guiding the project for the rest of its existence.”
The goal for rail officials now is to have a Draft Environmental Impact Report ready by next summer, and the final EIR by the summer of 2017.
“We are taking into account what community members are saying,” said Adeline Yee, High Speed Rail Authority spokeswoman. “All of that is taken into consideration.”
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There has been positive feedback, also, she said, mostly from the Millenial generation.
“The California High-Speed Rail Authority understands the concerns that the people of Santa Clarita Valley and other communities have about the high-speed rail program,” Yee said, in response to Monday’s meeting. “We are engaged in a back and forth process that will produce a system with the greatest benefits and the fewest impacts. The Authority will hold more public meetings in the coming months as we move forward to develop a range of alternatives.”
There will be community-wide open houses in May, she added.
The various routes affect all of the cities differently, but the discussion Monday focused on the North Los Angeles County portion of the state’s proposed $68 billion, San Francisco-to-Los Angeles routes.
There are four routes being looked at — the least favorable for the officials at Monday’s meeting was a route that heads through San Fernando, and then heads north along Highway 14, coming within throwing distance of Sulphur Springs Elementary in Canyon Country.
San Fernando Mayor Joel Fajardo said the western route, also known as the SR-14 corridor, splits his city’s historic downtown in half.
The train would jeopardize about 7 percent of his city’s budget, he said, which, to put in local terms, would be the equivalent of the revenue generated from two Westfield Valencia Town Centers in a year, he said.
City Councilman TimBen Boydston was angered over the cost and the impending eminent domain, which could cost residents their homes.
“It is wrong,” Boydston said, “it is wrong to take a historically significant city like San Fernando, and run a train right through it above ground and take out homes.” He also implied that believing the state’s $68 billion price tag this early probably requires a lot of medical marijuana.
For Acton officials, opposition to the high speed rail plan seemed to extend to any route, but the eastern routes are the least damaging.
The noise from the train, which could come above ground near schools and even cut through an Acton church that would have to be displaced, was also a concern among numerous residents.
“We want to push this train, away from our homes, away our schools, away from our businesses,” said Chris Croisdale, president of the Acton Town Council, “and away from our livelihoods.”
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27 Comments
Heres an idea: we dont need a damn high speed rail, we dont need to destroy peoples homes or businesses, we dont need to destroy more forests. For what? So people in Acton can get to the better part of California? How about no
This is amazing a community stood up.
I am so opposed to the high speed rail. I voted no on it. The city of Santa Clarita does not show who’s houses they would be taking for immediate domain along the 14. I would like to know if my neighborhood or even my house will be effected.
Desiree, I live below the target sign on the south side of sierras hwy. I’ve yet to figure where the train would run near the 14. What does that mean. I look at the map but can’t tell. Years ago the state said there was a prehistoric landslide right where Target sits. Go figure. Post an answer if you have figured it out. Thanks
I remember you..your brother is Steve. On our street in 2004..2005 the rain took out 2 houses across the street. .Jon Chief in ski house is still vacant and red tagged…someone bought it but they can not live in it..and back then they were building Target and I asked the city about insurance and was try Lloyds of London. ..its like you are kidding me.
Sorry for the spelling..my phone automatically corrects what it thinks is incorrect.
There is a map you can get that shows what neighborhoods will be affected. The City or the Southland Regional Association of Realtors can get it for you.
Me too
Will never happen…
This needs to happen! There’s already one in the making from I believe LA to San Fran!
This needs to happen! There’s already one in the making from I believe LA to San Fran!
I would love a high speed train hauling ass thru Santa Clarita. Who’s house we knocking down first?
This was the 4th HSR meeting so far. I have been to the other meetings which were a lot more informative. I have submitted my recommendations for Burbank to Palmdale route via tunnel. I also talked with one if the engineers on the project who also worked on the London-Paris tunnel.
HSR will be so great! Driving is awful for my health and the environment. I think it having a stop in SCV is better than Palmdale, as it serves more people and is already better connected to LA.
HSR will be so great! Driving is awful for my health and the environment. I think it having a stop in SCV is better than Palmdale, as it serves more people and is already better connected to LA.
Its a shame the city chose to be selfish and short sighted
Its a shame the city chose to be selfish and short sighted
Why??? We need it so bad!
This is true however my neighbors and I in Acton would lose our homes. I NEED my home that I’ve worked very hard for. The rail apparently doesn’t effect you. Good for you.
Why??? We need it so bad!
Not good at all!!
Sorry, I don’t support wasting money.
There is already a train that goes from Palmdale to Burbank. It’s called the Metrolink
In 2011, the proposed budget to build HSR was $98 billion. Due to public response, the budget was “conveniently” dropped to the current figure of around $68 billion, which is still the most expensive public works project ever in the USA. They will have to take people’s land – thousands of properties – thru eminent domain. Property owners can take their buy-out offers to court, which is already happening in the central valley. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a final cost of over five times the budget.
On another note: I was at Monday’s meeting and, out of the 1,500 in attendance, I saw one black person and not more than five Hispanics. Virtually everyone was white and nearly everyone was over the age of 50. C’mon folks. You should hold your complaining if you can’t make it out to a free meeting on a Monday night!!!! Pathetic.
I am a property owner in Acton. I do not want a 200 mph train going anywhere near my property devaluating it. Also the environmental impact is unacceptable.