MERCED (KMJ) — Despite the multitude of discussions and debates trying to derail it, High Speed Rail is still on track to come to the valley. With the plans moving forward, the City of Merced will be holding a public meeting to ask the people what they’d like to see constructed near the new terminal.
The High Speed Rail station is set to be at the center of a Downtown Merced regeneration. Planners want residents to have their say on what it looks like, and they’re holding a meeting to establish just that.
“We want them to be really happy with the outcome of it”, says the City of Merced’s Mike Conway. “The planners are people who come in and they’re the ones who are going to put everything down in the drawings and the maps.
“We want the public to be the ones who have the vision and direct the planners on how to put it onto paper”.
But the gathering is for those with suggestions, not for those who wish to speak out against High Speed Rail.
“This is not to be talking yay or nay on the High Speed Rail project itself”, continues Conway. “That’s a whole separate discussion, independent of this project. What we’re talking about is the station”.
The meeting is set to take place Wednesday 24th February from 6pm until 8pm. It’ll be held in the Sam Pipes Room in the Merced Civic Center on 678 W. 18th Street.
Anyone with questions or comments can direct them to the City’s Economic Development Director Frank Quintero, at quinterof@cityofmerced.org; or Development Associate Maria Mendoza at mendozam@cityofmerced.org.
