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CTC Approves Caltrain Connectivity Funding
The California Transportation Commission approved Caltrain's request for $106 million in Prop 1A connectivity funding for the Caltrain Modernization program. When voters approved the High Speed Rail bonds in 2008, the proposal included funding for improvements to connecting transportation services.
The remaining $600 million in state funding requests would come through the Prop 1A High Speed Rail funding. That money will need to be approved by the state Legislature. A vote is expected within the next week.
This recent approval by the CTC comes on the heels of a report released jointly by the Bay Area Council and Congresswoman Eshoo that indicates Caltrain Modernization will stimulate billions of dollars in regional investments and economic improvements.
Critical to strengthening the region's economic recovery, will be the more than 9,000 jobs created as a result of the construction project, which include electrifying the rail corridor and adding an advanced signaling system. Improved housing values and air quality and enhanced access to a high quality public transportation on the Peninsula will also give the region a substantial economic boost.
"Our region needs this investment, our construction industry needs this, our environment needs this and frustrated drivers on Highway 101 need this. The state Legislature must approve this investment," said Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council, which has been a strong advocate for investing in the electrification and modernization project.
Wunderman continued, "Caltrain serves one of the most economically productive corridors in California and the nation, and one of the busiest and most congested commuter corridors in the Bay Area region. Electrifying this vital transportation system will boost ridership, clean up our air and remove thousands of cars a day from Highway 101. At the same time, it lays the foundation for high speed rail to come to the Bay Area."
The report was applauded by a coalition of business, labor and environmental groups. Details on the report and stakeholder comments can be found HERE.
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Are you a supporter of Caltrain Modernization?
Contact your legislator and urge them to approve funding for this important project. |
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District Employees Raise Nearly $12,000 for Suicide Prevention
A team of San Mateo County Transit District employees who also manage Caltrain recently raised nearly $12,000 to prevent suicides. The team joined more than 2,000 people in the Out of the Darkness Overnight, an 18-mile walk in San Francisco to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The San Francisco Caltrain Station was the half-way point for the event.
For more information on the event and Caltrain's participation, visit our news release. |
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June 2012
Summer is usually a great month for getting outdoors and enjoying the beautiful Bay Area. We hope you'll be taking transit on some of your summer adventures. We've got some great ideas for taking transit to fun this summer.
As the month wraps up, Caltrain and its partners are turning their attention to Sacramento, where the Legislature will consider whether to approve funding for High Speed Rail's early investment in Caltrain Modernization. |
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MOU to Support Caltrain Modernization is Adopted By All Parties
In a unanimous decision last week, the San Jose City Council meeting, the council provided the last endorsement needed for a regional agreement to fully fund the modernization of the Caltrain system.
The agreement leverages local, regional and federal funding to secure hundreds of millions of dollars in state high-speed rail funds for the Peninsula. The next step will be the state Legislature's consideration of the funding request, later this month. If  funding is approved, riders could see an electrified and modernized Caltrain system as soon as 2019.
In addition to funding Caltrain modernization, the agreement also calls for future improvements to accommodate integrated Caltrain and high-speed rail service between San Francisco and San Jose. This "blended system" was first proposed by Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto), State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) and Assemblyman Rich Gordon (Menlo Park).
To protect surrounding communities, the agreement specifies that the blended system will be limited to design alternatives that are primarily two-tracks and exist substantially within the existing Caltrain right-of-way.
Under the agreement, before the blended system is built, Peninsula communities will benefit from electrified Caltrain service, which will provide faster, cleaner, quieter, more frequent service to more stations and more riders between San Francisco and San Jose.
Caltrain continues to experience record ridership growth, but the system's current diesel operations are near capacity and are consistently threatened by an ongoing structural deficit. The electrification and modernization of the Caltrain corridor will help accommodate increased ridership and reduce the subsidy required to operate the system, while also helping to prepare the corridor for future high-speed rail service.
In addition to the City of San Jose and the CHSRA, the MOU has been approved by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, California High Speed Rail Authority, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, the City and County of San Francisco, and the Transbay Joint Powers Authority. |
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Caltrain to Begin Testing Real-Time Information System
Caltrain will begin its first phase of Predictive Arrival/Departure System (PADS)testing during the second week of July. PADS will provide customers with real-time information regarding train locations.
The rail service will be equipped with GPS technology and a new Rail Operations Control System (ROCS). The two programs will work together to provide customers with train location information and predictive next stop arrival times.
The first round of testing will be done July 9 through July 13, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. During that time, we will be testing the visual messaging and public announcement systems and passengers and neighbors may here live testing announcements. The visual messaging system information and announcements will begin with "THIS IS A TEST" before additional data is provided.
Additional testing is expected to take place in August and September of this year before the system goes live. The system will also provide real-time information to Caltrain's website and passengers will be able to sign up for a free subscription service providing email alerts and SMS text messages to mobile devices and MTC's 511 system.
The project is expected to go live by the end of the year. For questions about the testing process, please contact Caltrain Public Affairs.
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Congress Continues to Make Progress on Surface Transportation Bill
Yesterday, party leaders announced that an agreement on a bill to reauthorize transportation funding was reached in conference. While both sides indicated there are still a few minor issues to work out, this is great news for public transportation providers who have waited years for new transportation legislation to come out of Congress.
Senator Boxer was quoted as saying that the two sides met "half way", adding, "Our country needs the kind of economic boost that this bill offers, and I am looking forward to getting it to the President's desk." Congressman Mica echoed Boxer's statement, saying: "This agreement will help strengthen our nation's construction industry and provide stability to highway, bridge and infrastructure projects across the country." Both Senator Boxer and Chairman Mica commented on the bill's ability to cut red-tape, quickly deliver projects, as well as furthering state and local control over federal funds.
A deal came together after the Keystone XL Pipeline Project - one of the most contentious areas of difference between the House and Senate - was dropped from the bill.
The bill will provide funding authorization through 2014.
Click HERE to see the District's letter to conferees outlining the Peninsula's federal transportation priorities. |
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In the News
Silicon Valley Leadership Group members make the urgent case for funding Caltrain Modernization. |
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