CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 28, 2025
DOCUMENTS RECEIVED
AFTER PUBLISHED AGENDA
Item#4
WS 25-001
South Bay Connect
From: Navpreet Khabra
To: List-Mayor-Council
Subject: Comments on Agenda Item #4 WS 25-001 South Bay Connect Project Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 1:16:17 PM
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Hello Mayor and City Council,
I want to thank the council for taking the time to gather feedback from the community on this issue. I feel the South Bay Connect project has lacked sufficient public outreach in the Hayward community when collecting feedback on the project.
I’m writing to share my personal concerns about the South Bay Connect project. As a lifelong Amtrak rider who regularly uses the Hayward station, I would be directly impacted if I could no longer board from Hayward along the Capitol Corridor line. I hope these concerns will be forwarded to the appropriate decision-makers.
When I didn’t know how to drive or didn’t have my license during my college years, I relied on Amtrak to attend college orientation at UC Santa Barbara and to travel home during school breaks. I also used the Capitol Corridor line to visit friends in Sacramento and for advocacy- related trips to the state capitol. Hayward was almost always the station I would board or depart from. From there, I’ve connected to countless other transit options to get home or to other locations in the area. Without the Hayward station, I would have been much more limited in my ability to get around for my education, professional work, and personal travel.
As I think about my future career, I often consider using Amtrak from Hayward to Sacramento as part of my potential commute. If the Hayward station is removed from the Capitol Corridor line, I would lose access to this option and likely have to rely on driving instead. I’ve always found taking the Capitol Corridor line from Hayward to Sacramento to be an enjoyable experience, with Wi-Fi, comfortable seating, and amazing views. It would be a real loss to no longer have that option due to the South Bay Connect project.
Even though ridership at the Hayward station was lower in 2023, the station is well- maintained, feels safe, and is easily accessible with many transit connections. It’s located in a beautiful part of Hayward and serves as an important hub for the community. The proposed alternatives, such as Fremont and the Oakland Coliseum, don’t provide the same benefits. The Fremont location has very limited transit access and would require driving, while the Oakland Coliseum raises safety concerns for many riders.
Public transportation in Hayward may not be perfect, but removing the Hayward Amtrak station would only make things worse. It would limit public transit access, increase reliance on cars, add to traffic, and harm the environment. Having the Hayward station allows local residents to enjoy better mobility and reduces the need for driving.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Navpreet Khabra
From: Cristina Deptula
Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 5:22 PM
To: List-Mayor-Council Subject: Agenda item #4 - Amtrak station
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Hi, I'm Cristina Deptula, and I'm passing along a comment for tonight's meeting.
I've used the Hayward Amtrak station many times and find it useful to connect the East Bay with Davis/Sacramento and the rest of the state. I would encourage serious thought about keeping that station in service!
Thank you,
Cristina
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