I agree with some of the criticisms here, but I've never understood the preference some have for Altamont. For it to be high speed, it can not stop to serve the tri-valley area. It is a long distance, high-speed system. The trains should travel the shortest, least populated routes between a handful of large cities. Not Fremont, not Pleasanton, not Tracy. So why should HSR go via Altamont? will it be faster that way?

There is an argument to suggest that the route should go away from areas that are currently developed between cities to avoid NIMBYs and the impacts such a line would have on residential areas.