California high-speed authority awards station planning funds to Gilroy

California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and city of Gilroy officials last week entered into a station-area funding agreement that will allow the city and the authority to initiate the planning process for a potential high-speed rail station in the city's downtown.

Gilroy Mayor Don Gage commended the authority and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) for their commitments to helping the city undertake the planning effort.

"The high-speed rail station will change the landscape of our downtown, just like the railroad did in the late 1800s," said Gage in a press release. "We are very pleased to receive the financial and technical support of the California High-Speed Rail Authority and VTA to properly design, plan and implement a station area that complements and enhances our downtown."

The city is located along the San Jose-to-Merced section of the project. The CHSRA is involved in advanced planning and outreach in support of future environmental clearance in the corridor between Gilroy and Merced. The downtown site is one of two locations under consideration for a Gilroy high-speed rail station.

Under the agreement, Gilroy will receive $750,000 in grants to explore options and seek public input for the design and development of the station. The authority will provide $600,000 and the VTA will allocate an additional $150,000 to support the city's efforts. Gilroy will contribute $80,000 to the station-area planning fund.