Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
9/5/2015 Print
https://usmg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=1ribch79klklv#5091205834 1/13
Subject: HSR gobbles up FresnoCaltrain breaks ridership record againNo BART on Labor Day
From: Rail Passenger Association of California ([email protected])
To: [email protected];
Date: Monday, August 31, 2015 9:32 AM
RailPAC Weekly ENewsletter for August 31, 2015 Edited by Noel T. BraymerFeel free to forward copies of this ENewsletter to your friends or someone who canuse this information. If you would like to subscribe to the ENewsletter just send me your name and emailaddress to [email protected] you'd like to see expanded and improved Rail Passenger ServiceJoin Us!Membership increases our strength in presenting the case for rail to policymakers at alllevels!
9/5/2015 Print
https://usmg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=1ribch79klklv#5091205834 2/13
A sign at Los Angeles Union Station of the free events planned at the station for the month of August2015. This is done to draw more people to the Station by making it a destination. Photo by Noel T.Braymer
$2.2B in capandtrade funds begins flowing, boosting rail, housing, clean carsEnvironment & Energy PublishingAug 25, 2015The biggest beneficiary is the state's highspeed rail line, which so far has reaped $750 million. Transitagencies in the San Francisco and greater Los Angeles regions each garnered $41 million. A reclamationdistrict in Sacramento County received $10.4 million to build wetlands. Other recipients include cities,water districts, affordable home developers, trash companies, environmental groups, schools, farms andindividuals.
Highspeed rail continues to gobble up Fresno buildingsFresno BeeAug 24, 2015Eleven months ago, work began to tear down the vast and vacant Del Monte building on the east side ofG Street between Tulare and Kern streets. Since that time, other buildings along G Street have comedown: from a pair of office buildings on both the north and south side of Divisadero Street formerly usedby the state Department of Corrections; trucking company White Bear Transportation south ofDivisadero; J&J Cafe on the northwest corner of Tulare and G streets; the former Baz Brothers buildingon G south of Kern Street; the former ATC Distributing building at the northeast corner of G and Monostreets; and the Beacon gasoline station on the northwest corner of Ventura and G streets.
California agency advances work on first highspeed rail viaductProgressive Rail RoadingAug 28, 2015The California HighSpeed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and its designbuild contractor Tutor
9/5/2015 Print
https://usmg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=1ribch79klklv#5091205834 3/13
Perini/Zachry/Parsons (TPZP) yesterday began installing three cofferdams in the dry channel of theFresno River, where the future Fresno River Viaduct will be built...The Fresno River Viaduct is a 1,600foot aerial structure that will span from Raymond Road to WatsonStreet in Madera County, Calif. It will traverse the Fresno River and run parallel to BNSF Railway Co.tracks along State Route 145, CHSRA officials said.
High speed rail crossroadsManteca BulletinAug 29, 2015Manteca is on track to be impacted by high speed rail.Andrew Chesley is sure of it.“High speed rail makes sense for California,” the executive director of the San Joaquin Council ofGovernments told Manteca Rotarians recently during a meeting at Ernie’s restaurant.Often dubbed “The Crossroads of California”, Manteca may become the only city in the state thateventually is at the crossroads of high speed rail.
Brits move to CaliforniaRail EngineerAug 28, 2015As the California highspeed rail project gathers pace, British and Britishlinked companies have beenquick to move in...Network Rail Consulting, the international consultancy arm of Network Rail, has been selected as partParsons Brinckerhoff’s consultant team. Drawing on its experience with operating and maintaining HS1,Network Rail Consulting will provide specialist advisory services to the Authority, primarily inoperations and maintenance, leading up to the start of revenue service.
HSR trial date set for Kings County plaintiffsHanford SentinelAug 25, 2015A key lawsuit filed in 2011 by three Kings County plaintiffs against the California High Speed RailAuthority is set to go to trial on Feb. 11, 2016.The plaintiffs are homeowner Aaron Fukuda, farmer John Tos and the County of Kings. The nonjurytrial, which will probably include a day of oral arguments followed by a ruling from Judge MichaelKenny a few weeks later, will take place in Sacramento County Superior Court...Brady and fellow attorney Stuart Flashman contend that the authority’s plan violates three requirementslaid out in the language of Prop. 1A: that the system operate without a state subsidy, that a bullet trainshould be able to make a nonstop San FranciscotoLosAngeles run in less than 2 hours and 40 minutesand that the authority’s costsavings plan to share light rail and freight rail track in urban areas isinconsistent with Prop. 1A requirements.Brady said that the planned route, which includes a long eastward swing from Bakersfield to Palmdalebefore curving back westward to Los Angeles, won’t satisfy the 2 hour 40 minute trip time requirement.
Open house for Bakersfield high speed rail plansKERO 23ABC News Aug 25, 2015The new plans change the location of the rail station from the downtown Amtrak station to Golden Stateand F Street. The rail will about be shorter than originally proposed, saving hundreds of homes andbusinesses in the process.
9/5/2015 Print
https://usmg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=1ribch79klklv#5091205834 4/13
This map from the California High Speed Rail Authority shows both High Speed Rail alignments beinglooked at for Bakersfield. The darker blue line is the alignment from the existing Amtrak Station atBakersfield along the BNSF. The lighter blue line is the City of Bakersfield's proposal along the UP.South of Shafter the HSR alignment would meet up to the BNSF route to Hanford and Fresno.For moreinformation from a video on the UP/Bakersfield alignment go to California HighSpeed Rail Bakersfield F Street Station Alignment
Feds agree with developer on DallasHouston highspeed rail routeDallas Morning NewsAug 25, 2015The Federal Railroad Administration announced this month that the general route preferred by the projectdeveloper of a highspeed rail line between Dallas and Houston is indeed the best choice.Known as the “utility corridor,” it runs somewhat along highvoltage electrical transmission lines andcapitalizes on relatively straight, existing easements.
Gene Richards: Japan did highspeed rail right, 50 years agoModesto BeeAug 27, 2015Japan has just celebrated the 50th anniversary of the start of highspeed rail. The train travels at 200 mph,has had no fatalities and an average arrival deviation of 35 seconds.
Competition for bullet train getting fiercerJakarta Post Aug 29, 2015Competition to develop Indonesia’s first highspeed train is getting fiercer after Japan provided a newproposal for the project, which could upset its Chinese rivel. Unhappy with the Japan’s new proposal, Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Xie Feng met withCoordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution on Friday to seek clarification.
Jeremy Corbyn and Labour will put High Speed Rail in 'jeopardy'Telegraph.co.ukAug 10, 2015Good transport creates prosperity. Adam Smith taught that without transport, “every farmer must be
9/5/2015 Print
https://usmg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=1ribch79klklv#5091205834 5/13
butcher, baker and brewer”. ..Adam Smith was writing as a witness to the industrial revolution that created the original NorthernPowerhouse. Fifteen years earlier, Britain’s first canal had opened between Worsley and Manchester,almost immediately cutting the price of coal by half.
One German woman's solution to soaring rent prices: live on a commuter trainTelegraph.co.ukAug 24, 2015A young woman in Germany has given up her flat and started living on highspeed trains – because shewas fed up with paying the rent.The rent for Leonie Müller’s apartment in Stuttgart was relatively loweven by Germany’s standards, at €400 (£290) a month.But it was more than the cost of an annual seasonticket for all of Germany’s highspeed rail services, which works out at just €340 (£250) a month.
Opaque Process Leaves Californians in the Dark about Transportation FundingStreetsblog Los Angeles (blog)Aug 28, 2015Amid the swirling madness that is the final few weeks of the California legislative session—all bills mustbe voted on by September 11, or wait until next year—the question of how to raise, and spend, money ontransportation is still very much up in the air. Increasingly, it looks like major decisions will be madebehind closed doors and out of the public eye.
Caltrain sets ridership recordRailwayAge MagazineAug 25, 2015During its 2015 fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2015, Caltrain reached a record in total ridership ofmore than 18.5 million passengers., a 54.8% percent increase from just five years ago, when Caltraincarried 12 million riders.Also in FY2015, Caltrain carried an average weekday ridership (AWR) of 58,429 passengers, comparedto an AWR of 37,745 passengers in the 2010 fiscal year.
Sacramento inaugurates light rail extensionRailway Gazette InternationalAug 25, 2015Sacramento Regional Transit District held a ‘preopening celebration’ on August 23 ahead of the officialopening ceremony for the Blue Line light rail extension from Meadowview Road to Cosumnes RiverCollege on August 24...The $270m project extends the Blue Line southeast by 6·9 km and adds three stops. An extra stop atMorrison Creek, between Meadowview Road and Franklin, is due to open in 2017.
Phoenix and Sacramento open light rail extensionsInternational Railway JournalAug 24, 2015RESIDENTS of Mesa, a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona, and Sacramento, California, are celebrating thelatest additions to their city's light rail networks which opened on August 22 and 24 respectively.More than 3500 people rode the 5km extension of Valley Metro Rail's line from Sycamore Main Street toMesa Drive station for free on August 22, with celebrations held at each of the line's four new stations..."Light rail has generated an $US 8.2bn investment along the first 32.2km line into Phoenix, Tempe andMesa, and with this extension we know that investment is going to grow," says Phoenix mayor Mr GregStanton. "With Mesa's new extension and the opening of the Northwest extension next March, moreresidents have greater access to jobs, education, medical appointments, shopping and entertainment."
Phoenix Voters Approve $31.7B Transportation PlanBond BuyerAug 26, 2015 Phoenix voters have approved a $31.7 billion, 35year transportation plan supported by an increased andextended special city sales tax that will fund a tripling of Valley Metro's light rail system along with more
9/5/2015 Print
https://usmg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=1ribch79klklv#5091205834 6/13
buses and city street upgrades.
San Bernardino Transit Center celebrates openingSan Bernardino County SunAug 24, 2015To make public transit a convenient option, officials said, the San Bernardino Transit Center will bringtogether all major mass transit systems:• sbX (green line)• 10 local and two express Omnitrans bus routes• Victor Valley Transit Authority• Mountain Transit• Once completed, the Metrolink San Bernardino Line and Redlands Passenger Rail Project
Streetcar plan cleared by OCTAOrange County Register Aug 24, 2015With the commitment, the agency stands to gain up to $144 million from a competitive federal grantprogram called New Starts to spend on the planned $289 million lightrail line. The hopon, hopoffservice would would carry commuters, tourists and shoppers to jobs, stores and the Santa Ana trainstation, traversing four densely populated miles from Santa Ana to Garden Grove.
This Amtrak graphic shows the different projects proposed around the New York/ New Jersey area whichalso include a new tunnel under the Hudson.
Schumer wants $550M Sandy funds handed over to AmtrakNew York PostAug 24, 2015US Sen. Charles Schumer is asking the feds to hand over $550 million in yetunclaimed Sandyrelieffunds to Amtrak so the agency can make direly needed repairs to the beleaguered East River railtunnels...Amtrak owns the four East River tunnels. It uses them for its Northeast Corridor service. It also sharesthem with the MTA, which uses them for its LIRR service, and New Jersey Transit, which uses them toaccess a rail yard in Sunnyside, Queens.
9/5/2015 Print
https://usmg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=1ribch79klklv#5091205834 7/13
The superstorm left the tunnels inundated with salt water, causing the already antiquated passageways torapidly deteriorate.
What’s the Actual Cost of Amtrak’s TransHudson Gateway Project?Streetsblog Network Aug 21, 2015Alon Levy at Pedestrian Observations says it’s time for clarity.Each time Gateway is the news, there usually seems to be a fresh cost escalation. Is it a $10 billionproject? A $14 billion project? A $16 billion project? Or a $25 billion project? And what is includedexactly? Amtrak does not make it clear what the various items are and how much they cost; I have notseen a single cost estimate that attempts to establish a baseline for new Hudson tunnels without the PennStation South component, which would provide a moderate shortterm boost to capacity but is notnecessary for the project. The articles I’ve seen do not explain the origin of the $25 billion figure, either;it may include the tunnel and full fourtracking of NewarkNew York, or it may include additional scope,for example Amtrak’s planned vertical circulation for a future (unnecessary) deep cavern for highspeedrail
What’s Wrong with Amtrak?By Noel T. BraymerAnyway you measure it, Amtrak just isn’t in the same league as the major league rail passenger railroadsof Europe, Japan or China. Be it revenue, ontime performance, running times, average running times,customer satisfaction, passenger miles or whatever:Amtrak just isn’t in the same league for PassengerRailroading of most developed countries. To be fair, the United States let itself be left behind and it hasbeen slow to try to catch up with much of the rest of the world. But Amtrak often seems to be obliviousto just how far behind they are to the rest of the world and what they need to do about it.
Advocates hope to restore Amtrak service lost since KatrinaThe HillAug 28, 2015Transportation advocates are hoping to convince Amtrak to restore rail service on the Gulf Coast betweenNew Orleans and Florida that has been dormant since Hurricane Katrina 10 years ago. ..Advocates of restoring the dormant Gulf Coast Amtrak service are hoping to win support for thelanguage in the House when lawmakers return to Washington in September. "The Senate has passed avery good bill that does two things: It creates a $100 million fund for states to access for services whichwere annulled (Sunset Limited) or under threat of downgrading of discontinuance (Southwest Chief)," agroup called Friends of Sunset Limited to Florida wrote in a Facebook post as the Senate was approvingthe highway bill, which is known as the DRIVE Act, in July."Also restructures the Amtrak Board of directors by creating better regional representation," the group'spost continued. "Two directors each would come from the Northeast Corridor, States supportingpassenger service and most importantly for us, areas served by long distance service."
Getting there is half the fun, when you take a train ride up the California coastOCRegisterAug 29, 2015I don’t like to fly. So when my husband, Daniel, and teenage son, Charlie, and I planned a vacation weekin Seattle to visit some colleges, I was thrilled to discover we could get there by the Amtrak’s CoastStarlight.
Burned Amtrak worker from Fishers dies in hospitalIndianapolis StarAug 27, 2015A worker badly burned Saturday morning at an Amtrak facility in Beech Grove has died.Officials from the transportation company confirmed the death of the worker who was injured on the jobabout 11:40 a.m. Saturday at the Amtrak maintenance facility at 202 Garstang St.
9/5/2015 Print
https://usmg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=1ribch79klklv#5091205834 8/13
Amtrak train strikes truck on tracks near Mission HillsSan Diego 6 Aug 28, 2015SAN DIEGO A truck driver stuck in a line of traffic atop a set of train tracks near Marine CorpsRecruit Depot San Diego Friday was able to leap to safety moments before a locomotive plowed into hisvehicle. The northbound Amtrak Surfliner struck the box truck at a grade crossing on West Washington Streetnear Pacific Highway about 9:30 a.m., according to the San Diego FireRescue Department...The driver of the box truck told reporters he had started crossing the rails on a green light, then foundhimself trapped there between stationary vehicles when the signal went to red. The noninjury accident delayed train service and left traffic lanes blocked in the area through midday.That's one reason why your train is often late. You are suppose to wait until the crossing is clearbefore crossing the tracks.NB
Senior train discounts also extend to Amtrak VacationsBoston.com (blog)Aug 27, 2015As we noted in a piece in the Globe's Travel section on August 15 (“Seven Ways Seniors Can ReapSavings”), traveling by train can be a bargain if you're 62 or over. Amtrak (www.amtrak.com) routinelygives senior travelers a 15 percent discount off the lowest available rail fare—except for sleepers andAcela Express weekday trains. We're glad to add that those same rail savings extend to the train portionof Amtrak Vacations.
Interconnectivity enables trains, buses & planes to do what each does bestTrains Magazine Aug 12, 2015This Friday, I will be departing for my first visit to Switzerland, a twoweek tour of the country —primarily by train — that is a gift from my aunt for my 30th birthday. One of the things that has mostintrigued me about Switzerland, aside from its spectacular alpine scenery and the wonderful variety ofpassenger train services that span the country, is how well its entire public transportation system worksseamlessly as a whole. Standardgauge trains connect with narrowgauge trains and rack railways, andtrains connect to a network of postal buses, funiculars and lake boats that go where the railroads can’t orwon’t go. This unified network serves the entire spectrum of the public, offering different classes of service, butgiving everyone swift, punctual transportation from any point in the country to any other point, as well asmany points in neighboring countries, with hardly any route operating less than hourly. This is the kindof public service that I am ashamed that I cannot enjoy here in the world’s richest country.
More Than 1000 Convene for Mobility 21 Summit to...BenzingaAug 28, 2915"Investing in better public transit, roads, and other travel options is the safest and most efficient way torelieve traffic in our growing region, which has the most congested roadways in the nation," said ArtLeahy, CEO of Metrolink and Chair of Mobility 21. "The economic advantages to increased mobility areclear. What Southern Californians need are stable longterm funding sources to enhance ourtransportation systems and provide superior infrastructure and services to an eager public that is ready toembrace 21st century mobility options."
How will Phillips 66 rail spur affect NC?Paso Robles PressAug 28, 2015This means that up to five trains a week ranging in length from 80 to 100 rail cars (about one mile long)will be traveling through the North County, both north and south on the Union Pacific Railroadmainline;.. The justification for this expansion is the decline of crude oil production in California
9/5/2015 Print
https://usmg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=1ribch79klklv#5091205834 9/13
(meaning the amount extracted from beneath the ground). Phillips 66 SMR, to maintain its current levelof oil refining and provide oil to its exiting client base, had to begin seeking alternate sources and meansto transport raw crude that would be cost effective and have a minimal impact on the environment.
SANDAG's Transportation Plan is Stuck in ReverseSan Diego Free PressAug 27, 2015The 2050 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) was created by the San Diego Association of Governments(SANDAG), a planning agency made up of city and county governments, which handles regional issues.The RTP will be one of the most important things SANDAG does this decade—not just because it willshape how the region grows and changes over the next 35 years. It will be a huge determinant of SanDiego County’s carbon footprint in the 21st century, as transportation accounts for almost half (44.5%)of greenhouse gas emissions in San Diego County.The proposed RTP will allocate $214 billion toward various transportationrelated projects like freewayexpansion, public transit and bikeways. While it does eventually allocate a healthy portion of moneytoward public transit and other relatively green methods of transportation, it puts spending on expandedfreeways at the front of the line.The bulk of the public transportation spending would come decades later. That’s unacceptable for ourtransportation future, because it keeps us dependent on cars, with all the congestion, frustration, cost andgreenhousegas emissions that go with them.
NCTD starts bridge repairs; doubletrack project under consideration ...Del Mar TimesAug 26, 2015The North County Transit District recently began repairs to the railroad bridge over the San DieguitoLagoon and River at North Beach in Del Mar...If approved, the doubletrack project would add a onemile stretch of second main track between Del Marand Solana Beach, replace the nearly 100yearold wooden trestle rail bridge over the San DieguitoRiver, and add a specialevents rail platform on the west side of the fairgrounds. The project is part of theNorth Coast Corridor Program, a comprehensive package of highway, rail and transit, and coastal accessimprovements, which spans 27 miles from Oceanside to La Jolla.
Rail safety bill sent to GovernorVallejo Times HeraldAug 22, 2015Legislation to protect communities along rail lines and railroad workers by requiring trains and lightengines carrying freight within California to be operated with an adequate crew size received supportfrom the State Assembly with a 5128 vote.The bill, authored by Sen. Lois Wolk, DSolano, now goes to the Governor.
Federal Funding Firms Up Earthquake Warning System's Short Term FutureEmergency ManagementAug 26, 2015As the ground near Piedmont, Calif., began to shake in the morning hours of Aug. 17, sensors andalgorithms were busy putting together an advance earthquake alert. It was just another day and anotherearthquake for the ShakeAlert system. But a California Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system is far from complete, and successes to date arealmost overshadowed by slowtotricklein funding. While the federal government has invested somemoney in the undertaking, program officials say the state of California hasn’t made an overt move to runwith the fiscal ball just yet, in spite of supportive legislation.
How to navigate BART's transbay closure Labor Day weekendSFGate Aug 25, 2015The advice from transit officials remains simple: Stay close to home, and avoid trips between San
9/5/2015 Print
https://usmg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=1ribch79klklv#5091205834 10/13
Francisco and the East Bay, if possible.BART will halt service between downtown Oakland and downtown San Francisco all three days, fromSept. 57. It’s usually a lowtraffic period, but the holiday weekend features more big events than thefirst tubeless weekend, Aug. 12, when few problems were reported.
BART Soundproofing San Jose Homes for South Bay ExpansionNBC Bay AreaAug 24, 2015More than 250 homes in San Jose are being soundproofed as part of BART's expansion into the SouthBay.The $2.3 billion project to construct the Berryessa BART extension using state, federal and local fundsincluded soundproofing for nearby homes. But with construction for the Berryessa BART station in thefinal stretch, some homeowners are wondering why they were not included in the agency's plan tosoundproof properties.
People Behaving Badly: BART construction detourKRON4.comAug 27, 2015Red light and red car meet as one driver blows the light and heads down the wrong side of the street. It’sa street that is closed because of the new BART construction in San Jose. And it happens to put thedetoured traffic route for the construction right smack through a residential neighborhood.
Caltrain announces new safety measures for suicide preventionabc7news.comAug 25, 2015PALO ALTO, Calif. (KGO) Caltrain announced an aggressive new safety measures to limit access to itstracks a suicide prevention effort.The transportation agency said Tuesday the city of Palo Alto will install thermal infrared cameras thatcan detect people on the tracks more than a mile away.
Muni ready to roll out its new plans for better serviceSFGateAug 27, 2015More changes are coming to Muni in September, and they should deliver good news to riders of the city’sbeleaguered transit system. Especially if the first round of changes, made in April, are any indication.
LACMTA Rail Ridership Update Let's Go LA – July 2015 Edition Recent trends have continued, with the Blue and Red/Purple Lines continuing to slip a little, while theGreen Line stabilized. The Gold Line and Expo Lines continue to be near, though not at, alltime highs,with the Gold Line just missing a top 10 month in July. Expo Line ridership picked up from April andMay, but is still running a little below last year, so the rolling 12month averages dropped a little..
Rosa Parks Metro Station Set For $39 Million UpgradeCBS LocalAug 29, 2015The grant will provide the Rosa Parks station with a new plaza, enhanced parking, a sheriff’s substation,and traffic signal enhancement along the Blue Line.
Metro combats sexual harassmentThe Source Aug 26, 2015In April, we debuted “It’s Off Limits” to encourage victims and witnesses of sexual harassment to make areport to the Sheriff’s hotline 888.950.SAFE (7233). That line rings at the Sheriff’s Transit PolicingDivision dispatch desk and help can be sent without delay. Also, every rail car is equipped with anemergency button that notifies the operator of trouble on board and the train operator knows how to get
9/5/2015 Print
https://usmg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=1ribch79klklv#5091205834 11/13
help right away. Bus riders can notify the operator, or use their cell phone to call the hotline or 911 to getlocal police.Metro also has an awardwinning smartphone app, LA Metro Transit Watch for iPhone and Androiddevices that allows users to make a digital report to the Sheriff’s dispatch center and include a photographof the harasser.
This is a new sign at the entrance of LA Union Station for pedestrians giving directions to parts ofdowntown Los Angeles and the time it takes to walk to these destinations. Photo by Noel T. Braymer
We Get EmailsRe:Rail Hearing in ModestoIt seemed more of a "HIP HIP HOORAY" congratulatory celebration. Very well attended, (standingroom only in the fairly large Modesto Council Chambers) . Assembly Member Adam Gray chaired themeeting. Welcome was delivered by Modesto Mayor Garrad Marsh followed by statements fromLegislative Members e.g. Senators Cathleen Galgiani (Stockton), Anthony Cannella (Ceres) andAssembly Member Kristin Olsen (Modesto). All of these speakers made issue of the merits of increasedpassenger rail would have on reducing auto travel and the improvement of air quality which is a largeproblem in the central valley. The planned Mid Route early morning departure of north and south trainsout of Modesto which would ease and enhance commuter travel to the Bay Area, Sacramento and LosAngeles was enthusiastically touted.John Pedrozo chair of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) and Dan Leavitt Manager ofRegional Initiatives (SJJPA) spoke on background, funding needs and expansion plans e.g. Mid RouteDeparture pointing out the ongoing negotiations with the Host Railroad and Amtrak concerning lay overfacilities etc. Start date for this service may be a year or a year and a half from now.Bob Johnson chair of the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) and Stacey Mortensen
9/5/2015 Print
https://usmg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=1ribch79klklv#5091205834 12/13
Executive Director (SJRRC) Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) spoke of the planned extended ACEservice to Merced.Testimonials for the San Joaquin and ACE Improvement and Expansion were made by numerous valleySupervisors, Presidents and CEO's extolling the numerous advantages of the increased passenger railservice would bring e.g. ridership could possibly increase up to 70,000 per day, air quality would vastlyimprove , commuters could reach Silicon Valley and the Bay Area and an increase in business growth anddevelopment to the Central Valley would be a very positive result. Public Comment was more of the same , very positive.Bruce C.Jenkins
Re: Homeless at BARTYou had an email from Richard Bent, who wrote:"The article on sexual harassment is interesting as itbrings up the issues of how safe passengers feel in general in waiting areas as well as on busses and trains.I have noticed an increase in pan handlers and illegal vendors on board Metro’s Red Line between LAand Hollywood. Tolerating these kind of activities will eventually lead to a reduction in riders if notstopped soon."Plenty of panhandlers and homeless types aboard BART trains & in BART stations. How do they enterthe paid areas? Very likely the 'emergency exit' gateswhich one can walk thru easily, without breakingstepadjacent to the faregates. In SF, I did see one homeless type & dog jump over the faregate like aparallel bars gymnast. Yorkman LoweBarriers don't stop determined fare dodgers. Putting in barriers in LA County has not saved itmoney on Metrorail. The advantage of having ticket inspectors is they they improve security whilethey catch and fine fare dodgers. The money from the fines also makes up for revenue lost fromfare dodgers. As for problems from the Homeless in general, the most economic solution is to findthem housing.This is cheaper than jailing them, or treating them for life threatening healthproblem at the Emergency Room caused in large part by homelessness. This in addition to moneysaved due to the sanitary problems caused by homelessness. The Homeless have many problemswhich makes them homeless including mental heath problems, alcohol and drug abuse problems.What people who deal with the Homeless say is needed is to deal with those problems, is first theyneed stable living arrangements.NBSalt Lake City a model for S.F. on homeless solutions SFGate Jun 29, 2014What Salt Lake City did was simple: It created attractive housing that street people actually longed to livein, provided the new residents with plenty of onsite counseling to help them with problems such as drugabuse and unemployment, and put one person in charge who could get government and nonprofitagencies to work together.The result is that in the decade since Salt Lake and San Francisco launched campaigns to end chronichomelessness, Salt Lake's hardcore street population shrank so drastically it is expected to be statisticallygone by next year but San Francisco still struggles mightily. And Salt Lake did this by spending $20million a year in a millionresident metropolitan area. San Francisco spends $165 million. Opinions expressed in this enewsletter are those of the authors and not necessarilythose of the Rail Passenger Association of California.
The RailPAC Mission: Passenger Rail advocacy, Publications…both print andelectronic, Representation at regional meetings, and Rail education.Join us! More memberships increase our strength in presenting the case for rail topolicymakers at all levels!
You can send your comments to me at [email protected]
9/5/2015 Print
https://usmg5.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.rand=1ribch79klklv#5091205834 13/13
You can send your comments to me at [email protected]
For those who would like an additional copy of the eNewsletter with plain text(minus photos and graphics) just email me at [email protected] with yourname and email address. NB
If you are not a member, go to RailPAC Membership…Join Us! to getinformation about RailPAC and a FREE copy of our regular newsletter .
For information about RailPAC, contact the Membership Office
Write:Rail Passenger Association of California1017 L Street, PMB217Sacramento, CA958143805Email us at [email protected]
Call at (415) 7TRACK2 (415) 7872252
Unsubscribe from this list.
Copyright (C)Rail Passenger Association of California (RailPAC) All rights reserved.
Forward this email to a friendUpdate your profile
