In my opinion, most of the protesters would be happier if the existing trains went away. Some of their most noticeable people are those whose letters protesting the nasty noisy smelly trains all the time. They want the trains to go away completely, and probably would like all of the roads except for small private roads that only they are allowed to use.
There is an existing elevated structure in the San Carlos-Belmont area that was built some years ago. I'm still disappointed that they didn't build it four tracks wide (even if they only laid two tracks initially) because the incremental expense of the extra width would have been small compared to the several years of disruption the grade-separation project brought. I walk in this area once or twice a month. There are numerous underpasses, both road and pedestrian, through the berm. Any sensible design will have them. Besides, the whole point is to allow the roads and paths to be separated from the railroad instead of crossing at grade.
Oh, and (adjusting for the fact that all values everywhere are depressed lately with the collapse of the housing bubble), I haven't heard that property prices declined for the homes and businesses located along the elevated right of way through this area. I've seen no studies, but I would not be at all surprised if values increased thanks to the easier cross-track access.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2009-03-03 06:52 pm (UTC)There is an existing elevated structure in the San Carlos-Belmont area that was built some years ago. I'm still disappointed that they didn't build it four tracks wide (even if they only laid two tracks initially) because the incremental expense of the extra width would have been small compared to the several years of disruption the grade-separation project brought. I walk in this area once or twice a month. There are numerous underpasses, both road and pedestrian, through the berm. Any sensible design will have them. Besides, the whole point is to allow the roads and paths to be separated from the railroad instead of crossing at grade.
Oh, and (adjusting for the fact that all values everywhere are depressed lately with the collapse of the housing bubble), I haven't heard that property prices declined for the homes and businesses located along the elevated right of way through this area. I've seen no studies, but I would not be at all surprised if values increased thanks to the easier cross-track access.