The selection of that intersection for a train depot was news last week to Frank Watanabe, the city's transportation manager. He said there would need to be sufficient space for parking and auxiliary services, such as car rentals, and surrounding land uses would change. First, there has to be the money, not now in Gov. Gray Davis' 2001-2002 budget, to continue planning and environmental studies. Dan Leavitt, deputy director of the rail agency, based in Sacramento, said yesterday that the staff will make a presentation of the preliminary environmental studies to the board in early August.
Federal rules require that all options be considered.
The agency is also studying the Interstate 15 corridor inland for a high-speed train service. Leavitt said that work is independent of studies on the coastal route. He indicated there is potential ridership for both coastal and inland trains in San Diego County. Leavitt said the Oceanside Boulevard location was chosen for the first stop because it could connect to the east-west local rail service to be built by theNorth County Transit District and because it would provide good access. Karen King, director of development and communications for North County Transit, said she has been in discussions with the High-Speed Rail Authority consultants and staff but primarily about the coastal rail.