If a Madera HSR station is really an absolute must, I'd put it here at Avenue 17. It's a nice compromise location about halfway between Madera and Madera Acres, and is somewhat close to downtown Madera (at least more so than the currently chosen location at Avenue 12). Plus it would provide a direct cross-platform connection between CAHSR and the San Joaquins, not like the Avenue 12 location that'll require people to cross a parking lot to get between them. The only consolation is that CAHSR is not funding nor building the Madera HSR station. Although, given the San Joaquins will be discontinued south of Merced once HSR service begins, and it's probable that'll be permanent, it really does beg the question what the point of a Madera HSR station is in the first place. The Fresno station is not that far away, and the time spent getting from Madera to the HSR station to catch a train to downtown Fresno would take as long if not longer than just driving there. Same could be said for going to Merced. (To be fair though, beyond those two cities would start to favor HSR more, although Madera will be a local stop only.)
Given this is the first true high speed rail system in the country, and high speed rail cannot have any at-grade crossings (FRA law states any speeds above 125 mph require complete grade separation between trains and other vehicles, as well as pedestrians and wildlife), there are a lot more grade separations here than on most US rail lines, with the exception of the NE Corridor where the Acela runs, and maybe the Keystone Corridor.
