Visual

Submitted by JamesJonas on Thu, 04/16/2009 - 10:59

look

What are the potential visual impacts of the High-Speed Train?

Subject

Visual Impacts to local residents and businesses along the San Jose to San Francisco Caltrain corridor from the proposed California High-Speed Rail system.

Background

Residents along the Caltrain corridor are currently impacted by visual profiles from the local and bullet commuter train service as well as freight. Several factors will impact the visual profile of the proposed California High-Speed Rail, which include:

Overhead electrification system
Barriers to train tracks, possibly including fences, walls and razor wire
Visual footprint of the train
Visual profiles of new stations
Track placement alternatives, including: below grade, at-grade and above grade

Questions

What is the current visual profile of the existing local, bullet and freight rail systems along the San Jose to San Francisco Corridor for a range of conditions, including different speed profiles, acceleration/deceleration activities, locations, time of day, street/walkway barriers and station design?
What is the estimated visual profile for the California High-Speed Rail for similar conditions given:
1. a matrix of reasonable California High-Speed Rail train, track and electrification design alternatives
2. electrification of Caltrain trains
3. alternate grade placements, including below ground, trench, at the current grade levels and above the current grade levels
What is the difference between the current visual profile of Caltrains/Freight and the visual profiles of the proposed High-Speed Rails system, given a matrix of the above mentioned different conditions?