The sound thing is a non-issue. Sound radiates out equally in every direction unless it hits a barrier. Therefore, 180 degrees of it- half, will go out into space. Sound pressure drops 50% with the doubling of the distance. Imagine a small rockband at Tokyo Gardens, bass drums, guitar. about 105 db. Loud up front, not so much at the bar. now move the bar back 30ft, now take away the reflective walls, and roof. that’s a lame sounding band now isn’t it? Now move the stage at 220miles an hour. Over the course of 1 minute, it moved from 1.83 miles from your left to 1.83 miles away to your right. Not really a noise problem I think.

Docklands light railway in London has, in places, elevated track. You walk into an elevator at ground level and you go up 60ft, and wait for a train. The old station downtown would simply be a foyer, with coffee, food, newspapers, A/C. and taxis outside. A pleasure to hang out in, before you get in the elevator.

Both places, in my opinion, could provide inspiration for both stations and what can be done with elevated tracks. In Vancouver, specifically the Expo Line through Burnaby, there are linear park systems, with bike and pedestrian trails, that follow under the lines of a good portion of the tracks. Development and housing have sprung up along the train lines, and near stations. The sound of the trains passing above can be heard, even loudly, but it adds a character, gives a sense of urban place to the area. I loved it personally. The more current stations are mostly contemporary and modern in form and design, and are nothing less than spectacular. The stations are above ground, as well, where you take an elevator up to the platform.

As for Japan, I’d suggest looking at something like Kyoto Station as a model. Kyoto, the historical capital of Japan, with numerous World Heritage Sites throughout the city, also chose a modern structure, rather than building something that resembles one of it’s numerous older buildings.

Here are some links:

view of the linear park. Try not to be jealous of the fabulous views (in summer): http://www.ibritt.com/penthouse/images/view_skytrain_northwest.jpg

Brentwood elevated SkyTrain station: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/70/179523607_3e9f2105ce.jpg
http://home.istar.ca/~f_murray/images/Skytrain.jpg
http://canada.archiseek.com/news/2004/000136/brentwoodskytrain.jpg

Look at how Metrowtown SkyTrain station changed and revitalized the area – 24 years ago: http://buzzer.translink.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/54875356.jpg
http://buzzer.translink.ca/index.php/2010/01/skytrain-flashback-photos/
Today: http://image04.webshots.com/4/7/24/6/53972406ZRNgsa_fs.jpg

Kyoto Station, Japan:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3922.html

Do you think Fresno can create something like this? This is what I would push for if I were the residents of Fresno.

Actually, I don’t really like the idea of the CAHSRA leaving it entirely up to the cities to decide the design of their stations, for one, because some cities are more competent than others. They should work together on the design. For another, because a somewhat unified system design would look better and seem less confused. A good architect could pull anything off however, despite what restrictions and demands are placed on him or her.

I kinda like the CAHSRA’s concept design in the picture you posted above. The glass and curves are sleek and would give Fresno a whole new dimension in terms of it’s downtown architecture, which to this point, is stuck in the past, making you feel like you’ve gone back in time whenever you visit it. Something modern, striking and defining has got to be mixed in there to bring Fresno into the present, not just the future. However, if a green design is incorporated, though it’s not glass and steel, that would work, too, and be even more contemporary. As long as the train system is built, I almost don’t even care about what the station looks like because it will be awesome for any city along it’s lines.

Those peninsula cities, out of fear, stopped what could have been a better BART system that already rings the Bay. Now, after all these years, they’re planning extensions into the South Bay. Let’s not let them do it again.

I do agree with you that Fresno doesn’t have the density for TOD. That is exactly why we don’t have a revitalized downtown. Those two things come hand in hand. I also would like to see a return to localism/regionalism, but I think that HSR is an important part of any TOD (along with regional and local transit).

I think the biggest issue with our current system of transit is our reliance on gasoline and all that brings (increased traffic deaths, urban sprawl, necessity to drive everywhere, increased obesity, decrease in social capital, increased infrastructure costs, increased personal transportation costs) All these things have been shown to be related to our car-centric society and urban sprawl.

Public transit and mass transportation need to become a major part of our future. Neither can really become as effective without the other, and the increase in one will often help with the increase in another.

We are at a crossroads where we have the opportunity to improve our system of planning and development.

HSR is not the most used piece of infrastructure in California simply because it doesn’t exist. And just because it doesn’t exist already doesn’t mean it isn’t the best option for our state and for our future.

HSR has been proven all over the world, every system creates an operating profit, and without actually knowing the future, I honestly believe the smart money is on investment in high speed rail.