2005-093 - Joining The Silicon Valley High - Speed Rail CoalitionRESOLUTION 2005 - 93
RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL
OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
JOINING THE SILICON VALLEY HIGH -SPEED RAIL COALITION
WHEREAS, the California High -Speed Rail Authority, the organization
responsible for planning, designing, constructing, and operating the state's proposed
high -speed rail system, currently intends to run the first leg between Los Angeles and
San Francisco through San Jose /Silicon Valley. Ultimately, the line would be extended
to Oakland, Sacramento and San Diego; and
WHEREAS, the California High -Speed Rail Authority originally recommended
two alignment options: (1) through the Pacheco Pass or (2) a series of tunnels through
the Diablo Range—to bring high -speed rail into the San Francisco Bay Area through San
Jose /Silicon Valley; and
WHEREAS, the California High -Speed Rail Authority concluded that entering
the Bay Area from the south would offer faster travel times, more frequent service to San
Jose /Silicon Valley, San Francisco and Oakland, higher ridership, and increased revenue;
and
WHEREAS, in May 2004, the Los Gatos Town Council adopted a resolution
supporting the California High -Speed Rail Authority's recommended alignment options,
which included the Pacheco Pass alignment into the Bay Area; and
WHEREAS, the Silicon Valley High -Speed Resolution Coalition has requested
that the Town of Los Gatos join the Coalition to show its support of high -speed rail and
the recommended Pacheco Pass alignment option to provide effective and efficient rail
service to the Bay Area.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Los Gatos agrees
to join the Silicon Valley High -Speed Rail Coalition, support the Coalition Guiding
Principles as reflected in Exhibit A, and communicate the Town's position in writing to
the California High -Speed Rail Authority.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Town Council on the 6 t '
of September, 2005 by the following vote:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
AYES: Steve Glickman, Diane McNutt, Joe Pirzynski, Barbara Spector,
Mayor Mike Wasserman.
NAYS: . None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
SIGNED:
MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
ATTEST:
CLERK ADMINISTRATOR OF THE TO OF LOS OS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
Guiding Principles
Congressman Mike Honda
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgron
State; Senator Plaine Ahluist
State Senator Abel Maldonado
Assembly Member Rebecca Cohn
Assen)bly Member Joe Coto
Assembly blernber Simon Salinas
Advocates for Coe Park
Applied Materials
A,sociated General Contractors of
California
Califorrila Apartment Association, Tri-
County Division
CELSOC -Santa Clara County Chapter
City of San Jose
City of Sunnyvale
County of Santa Clara
Gilroy Chamber of Commerce
Operating Engineers, Local Union No, 3
Piney kidga Association
Sally Probst, housing advocate
Redwood City -San Wtoo County
Chamber of Commerce
SAMC DA
Santa Clara Valley Transportation
Authority
Sari Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of
Corntnerce
San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau
San Jose Downtown Association
Santa Clara and Seer Benho Counties
The Silicon Valley High -Speed Rail Coalition supports the
construction of a high -speed rail line connecting northern and
southern California as a means of relieving highway and air
traffic congestion between the San Francisco Bay Area and Los
Angeles, one of the busiest air traffic corridors in the nation.
The Coalition believes the high -speed rail line should enter the
San Francisco Bay Area from the Central Valley through a
Pacheco Pass alignment and opposes any route between Pacheco
Pass and Altamont Pass through the Hamilton Range. We
support a Pacheco alignment, because such a route would:
• Maximize the number of trains serving the region's three
largest cities —San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland
• Maximize the speed, frequency and ridership of the high-
speed rail service and, therefore its long -term economic
sustainability.
• Minimize adverse environmental impacts.
• Follow an existing transportation corridor, rather than
creating a new transportation corridor.
• Not pass through or under Henry Coe State Park or
through land likely to be annexed into the park in the near
future.
Building and Construction Trades Council In addition, the Coalition:
Silicon valley Leadow9hip Group Opposes efforts to turn the high -speed rail service into a
commuter line connecting the Central Valley and the Bay
Area. This would be inconsistent with the primary mission of
the high -speed rail service, which is providing a competitive
long- distance transit alternative between northern and southern California. The
Coalition supports expanding existing commuter service, such as Altamont
Commuter Express (ACE) and the Capitol Corridor Intercity Rail Service, to serve
this need.
• Supports running high -speed rail along as much of the Caltrain Commuter Rail
Service Corridor as feasible. This will reduce the cost of constructing the high-
speed rail line as well as improve the speed, frequency, and safety of Caltrain
commuter rail service between Gilroy and San Francisco.
• Believes the California High -Speed Rail Authority should make every effort to
mitigate adverse environmental impacts on local communities, such as increased
noise and traffic disruption, which may be generated by the construction and
operation of high -speed rail along the Caltrain corridor.
EXHIBIT A