BayRail Alliance
BayRail general meeting
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ElectrificationQ: Why is Caltrain electrification so important?
If we don't want to sit in gridlock on the Peninsula in the coming years, and we don't want to build new freeways, then we must increase the capacity of Caltrain to carry more passengers.
Caltrain is in a situation now where increases in diesel fuel prices and other costs related to labor, such as health insurance premiums, are outpacing even the healthy growth in ridership. The year is quickly approaching when Caltrain, filled to capacity, will be unable to accommodate additional riders during peak hours. In the near future, Caltrain may be forced to raise fares even more, and cut service. There is a very real danger of triggering a downward spiral of decreasing service, decreasing ridership, and higher fares. Electrification is a proven method worldwide of cutting operating costs, and Caltrain staff have prepared analyses of how many more extra seats they can offer at reduced operating cost if Caltrain is electrified, in their Project 2025 presentation. Caltrain has a lot of aging equipment that will need to be replaced soon. Since Caltrain has to replace a lot of equipment in any case, now is the time to spend some extra money to do it right and allow Caltrain to grow and sustain service over the next few decades. Electrification of Caltrain will revolutionize transit on the Peninsula, attract tens of thousands of new riders, and set an example in the U.S. of what rail transit can be. Alternatives Analysis Open House HSR San Francisco to San Jose SectionTime/date: September 30, 2009 6:00 – 8:00 pm Source: Alternatives Analysis Open HouseCalifornia High‐Speed Rail Authority San Francisco to San Jose Section Project Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement Wednesday, September 30, 2009 SamTrans Auditorium 1250 San Carlos Avenue – San Carlos 6:00 – 8:00 pm In late‐January 2009, the California High‐Speed Rail Authority (Authority) held public scoping meetings along the Caltrain corridor in San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties for the San Francisco to San Jose High‐Speed Train (HST) Project Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) process. Public and agency comments provided at those meetings and in other written correspondence received before April 6th, 2009 were included in the draft scoping report, which was completed and published as a draft document in June 2009. Based on the input from the scoping process and previous studies the Authority is developing design alternatives for the Caltrain corridor that will serve both existing Caltrain and future high‐speed train service. The Authority is holding community workshops in order to share and discuss the alternatives development process and initial design alternatives for the Caltrain corridor. We invite you to attend the first of three community workshops to be held on September 30, from 6:00‐8:00 pm at the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) 2nd Floor auditorium, located at 1250 San Carlos Avenue (San Carlos, CA). Your participation is important. Public and agency input received during this phase of the project is a key part of the evaluation process helping to determine which alternatives and design options will be advanced for further environmental and engineering review. For your convenience, we will be conducting two additional alternatives analysis open house meetings in October, one in San Francisco and one in Santa Clara County. These meetings are scheduled for: October 9, 6:00‐8:00 pm Sunnyvale Recreation Center (Ballroom) 550 E. Remington Drive Sunnyvale, CA October 13, 6:00‐8:00 pm Milton Marks Conference Center 455 Golden Gate Avenue – Lower Level San Diego A/B/C Rooms San Francisco, CA These meetings will provide the same information presented at the meeting held on September 30 in San Mateo County. The format of the meeting will be “open house” style, with various stations providing maps illustrating the proposed alignment alternatives, informational materials, and project exhibit boards. Project staff will also be available during the evening to respond to inquiries and to collect public comments. To learn more about high‐speed rail visit the California High‐Speed Rail website at: www.cahighspeedrail.com or contact the San Francisco to San Jose project information line at: (510) 587‐8640 BayRail Alliance endorses MTC's San Francisco/Silicon Valley Corridor strategyInformation about the MTC's High Speed Rail strategy. June 24, 2009 Will Kempton, Director California Department of Transportation 1120 N St, PO Box 942873 Sacramento, CA 94273-0001 Dear Mr. Kempton: For more than 25 years, BayRail Alliance has been a strong supporter of Caltrain service improvements on the Peninsula. We are also proud for our advocacy efforts on high speed rail especially during the early part of the decade. We are writing to express our full support of the San Francisco/Silicon Valley Corridor Investment Strategy recommended by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. We support MTC's strategy because it is the best approach to fulfill the promise made to voters through last year's Proposition 1A and the intent set forth in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Feb 19, 2009 BayRail General Meeting - Caltrain electificationFeb 19, 2009 BayRail General Meeting - Caltrain electification Time/date: Want to know the current progress on electrification? Come to the BayRail Alliance general meeting next Thursday and find out! Location: BayRail Alliance meeting Dec 4What steps do we need to take now to get Caltrain electrified? Come to the BayRail Alliance general meeting this Thursday Time/date: What steps do we need to take now to get Caltrain electrified? Come to the BayRail Alliance general meeting this Thursday and find out! Location: General Meeting April 17, 2008Carbon Neutral Rail Service Time/date: What would it take to make the Caltrain run entirely on solar power? Joining us will be David Dearborn, a San Jose native who has developed a concept for Carbon Neutral Rail Service (CNRS). His presentation will be his first public presentation of this concept. He is looking for critical, constructive feedback to assess its long term feasibility and value. Your questions, input and critique are most welcome. Bring your calculators, note pads and curiosity.
After 30 years in the microwave component and telecommunications equipment industry, David continues to explore the world around him, research, develop and test new ideas and enjoy the creative process. Since obtaining his BS in Business Administration from San Jose State, his management career has included procurement, manufacturing, manufacturing engineering and project management. His work has taken him to Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia, and personal travels though much of Europe. As an avid cyclist he feels the greater Bay Area and much of California offer some of the best riding experiences in the world. He looks forward to meeting with us. Location: Regional Rail Plan WorkshopsTime/date: August 15 - 27, 2007 Source: MTC Track the Bay Area’s rail future at a public meeting on the Draft Regional Rail PlanAfter 18 months of analysis and stakeholder involvement, a draft regional rail plan for expanding the region’s network of rail lines has been completed.
The Draft Regional Rail Plan was made to identify potential rail passenger and rail freight improvements for the near-, intermediate-, and long-term and the economics of different scenarios. Wednesday, August 15, 2007 in Oakland MTC Joseph P Bort MetroCenter Lawrence D. Dahms Auditorium 101 Eighth Street, Oakland Session 1: 3 - 5 PM Session 2: 6 - 8 PM each session is identical, just held at different times. The format is an open house the first 1/2 hour followed by presentation/discussion. Thursday, August 16 in San Jose Santa Clara County Bldg Senter Auditorium Session 1: 3 - 5 PM Session 2: 6 - 8 PM Monday, August 20 in Suisun City Suisun City Hall Council Chambers 701 Civic Center Blvd., Suisun City Session 1: 3 - 5 PM Session 2: 6 - 8 PM Wednesday, August 22, 2007 in Livermore Livermore Public Library Community Rooms A & B 1188 S. Livermore Ave., Livermore Session 1: 3 - 5 PM Session 2: 6 - 8 PM Monday, August 27, 2007 in San Carlos CCAG offices San Mateo County 1250 San Carlos Ave, 2nd floor Auditorium San Carlos 3:30 PM - 5 PM one session only at this location Introduction to Caltrain ElectrificationLearn about plans to electrify Caltrain for faster trains, more frequent service, and less pollution Time/date: Come to the upcoming BayRail Alliance meeting to find out about plans to electrify Caltrain for faster trains, more frequent service, and lower pollution. Location: General Meeting Feb. 15, 2007Building Support for Electrification Time/date: We know that electrification is necessary for Caltrain's survival. Furthermore, Caltrain has only a two-year window of opportunity for a political commitment to be made. How can we build the political support necessary to make electrification a reality? We'll discuss how to talk about electrification with the ordinary layperson and your elected officials. Special presentation by Andy Chow. Location: 
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