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Public and council debate high‑speed rail station location; some favor Campus Parkway option, others caution about regional trade‑offs
Summary
Residents and council members discussed a possible shift of the proposed high‑speed rail station toward Highway 99/Campus Parkway, with supporters citing lower acquisition costs and better multimodal connections and critics warning about project cost and broader program risks.
Dan Holmes, who said he is a retired transportation engineer, urged the city to consider a southeast Merced station near Highway 99 and Campus Parkway rather than a downtown siting, saying the Campus Parkway location would be easier to acquire and better connected to future bus or light‑rail links. “Had you moved forward with that suggestion 15 years ago, we could have done some planning rather than reacting,” Holmes said.
Several council members expressed support for staying engaged with the High‑Speed Rail Authority and exploring the Campus Parkway option, emphasizing the risk that Merced could be left off the map if the city is not part of station‑location conversations. One council member noted the Authority’s stated preference for cheaper, faster options that avoid substantial displacements and said a southeast location might increase the likelihood the project comes to Merced.
Other public commenters, however, criticized the overall high‑speed rail project as over budget and questioned continuing investment. Rick Wendling described the state program’s cost growth and said he considered the program a “boondoggle,” urging the council to push back at the legislative level.
Why it matters: A station location will shape long‑term land use, economic development, multimodal connectivity and neighborhood impacts. The discussion reflects community divisions over cost, timing and whether to prioritize downtown redevelopment versus edge‑of‑town accessibility.
What’s next: Council indicated it will stay involved with Authority discussions, continue community engagement (including UC Merced surveys), and seek to balance downtown opportunities with realistic delivery timelines and funding constraints.
