HSR station relocation

President of Merced Senior Citizens Inc. supported the relocation, saying it saves the senior center his group has run for 31 years and preserves downtown businesses that generate tax revenue.

A District 1 resident who urged option B (further analysis), warning that Merced must secure written guarantees it stays in the rail line's interim operating segment before agreeing to any relocation.

A skeptical resident who doubted the authority's 45-minute Fresno-to-San-Jose travel-time claim and backed option B, saying "more work needs to be done."

District 2 advisory committee member stressed that any Southeast station must have coordinated bus and transit connections within minutes of train arrivals, or riders will be stranded.

A developer with 300-400 planned houses in the corridor who called the move an opportunity if done right, but worried about taxing authorities, housing affordability and infrastructure, and wanted Merced's section built first.

President of the Downtown Neighborhood Association announced DNA's support for the move, citing preserved community assets and the chance that land-banked downtown parcels will finally develop.

A North Merced resident who backed option B, questioning transit access to a remote station, costs of new bus lines, air quality, and why no one consulted UC Merced before pitching the move.

Presented a property-tax analysis showing downtown generates $195,000 per acre versus $35,000 at Campus Parkway, warning the city bears extension costs if the station goes outside limits.

A Livingston council member and UC Merced alum expressing regional support for the project and offering Livingston's help lobbying in Sacramento and Washington.

A Leadership Council land-use advocate who urged option B, asking whether disruption and pollution would simply shift to already-burdened South Merced and demanding environmental analysis.

A farmer and former Farm Bureau president who backed option B, citing floodplain risks near Mission and favoring Strong Towns-style walkable development over building outward.

A UC Merced researcher who presented survey findings: 407 residents surveyed largely support high-speed rail downtown and 90 percent want extensive community engagement.

A South Merced resident frustrated by the lack of maps or pictures of the site, describing her neighborhood's transit and grocery access struggles and hoping relocation brings investment.

The UC Merced chancellor confirmed the university has long supported rail to Merced, had never met with the authority on this move, and offered to engage in future conversations.

Supported moving the station to South Merced but asked the city to invest in downtown's roads, sewer and water infrastructure that was deferred while awaiting rail.

A District 5/2 resident backing option B, citing Merced's history of car-oriented sprawl after the mall, and urging study of a State Route 140 alignment with Caltrans.

Executive director of the Downtown Merced Partnership who urged keeping the station downtown, arguing an economic engine only works connected to restaurants, hotels and walkable streets.