The Story's End

Five days before they planned, Burlingame officials took down the story poles erected at Burlingame Station as an example of the height and size of elevated high speed rail tracks.

City officials planned on keeping the poles up through Friday Oct. 23, but took them down Oct. 18 due to their expense and concerns from Caltrain.

"Initially, we were contemplating affixing the poles to standard 'scissor' lifts, which are relatively inexpensive, but they could not get more than 30 feet high. Also staff was concerned about public health and safety issues with them," Burlingame Public Works Director Syed Murtuza said in a press release. "We changed out plans to install safer lifts, which could go as high as 60 feet. These new lifts, however, are more expensive."

Additionally, Murtuza said there were added costs incurred from providing security personnel in order to allay Caltrain's safety concerns.

The story pole structure reached 59 feet tall. The viaduct for the trains would start about 16.5 feet off the ground, and was demonstrated by 13 feet of orange netting. Beyond the orange netting was the space the trains and electric cables would use, up to the 59-foot mark.

The story poles were placed 30 feet apart, but an actual four-track aerial structure would span anywhere from 8o to 120 feet.

Although Burlingame officials have called for underground tracks, the High Speed Rail Authority has taken that option off the table and is leaning towards an aerial option.

The story poles sparked many discussion in Burlingame regarding high speed rail.

"We have received call from as far away as San Jose asking about them," said City Manager Jim Nantell in a statement. "Most of the feedback we have gotten is that people do not favor an aerial alignment through our city."