Technology: Visualizing High-Speed Rail

Heather Schuchard, TC Technology and Troy Hightower, Kern COG

As early as 2012, construction will begin on the Bakersfield to Fresno section of the High Speed Rail. In addition to the estimated 150,000 new jobs it will bring to the Central Valley, the proposed 60-foot elevated platform and station will change the face of downtown Bakersfield. As a regional MPO, Kern Council of Governments was required by SAFETEA-LU (Federal Transportation Law), to use visualization techniques to strengthen public participation and understanding of the planning and project delivery process. This presentation will identify the driving factors behind the project, logistics/connectivity challenges, and the steps performed to build a GIS based 3D visualization. Specific benefits will be discussed, such as quotes from the public, reaction from potential developers, integration with the regional Sustainable Communities Strategy and enhanced live/work/play accessibility. The public saw more than high-speed rail coming down the tracks—they witnessed downtown revitalization.