Issue date: April 07, 1999
By MARION SOFTKY
The dream of reincarnating clunky Caltrain as a fast, safe, clean, flexible rail system for the 2000s seems brighter this week.
On April 1, the three-county board operating the Peninsula rail service appeared ready to affirm that electrifying the 47-mile line is key to making it part of a modern rail system. However, the board delayed its decision for a month to work out final wording.
Menlo Park Councilman Steve Schmidt led the drive to give electrification top priority in the Caltrain Rapid Rail Study, which outlines improvements over the next 10 years. "This could be a turning point for the whole Peninsula and San Francisco served by the railroad," he said.
After the meeting, supporters of Caltrain, who make up a Greek chorus in favor of electrification at every meeting, were hopeful the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB) would follow through next month. "This was clearly a victory for electrification -- so far," said train advocate Rick Silver.
The Caltrain staff had concluded that essential projects to rebuild the aging rail system and expand its capacity should take precedence over electrification in spending some $460 million in available funds. The amount of outside funds that Caltrain can attract are limited by the amount of money the three counties put up, they noted.
Over the past six months the debate has been intensifying over how to allocate a wish list of well over $1 billion for bringing Caltrain into the 21st century, with electrification apparently trailing other projects. The staff estimates that electrifying the line from San Francisco to Gilroy will cost $376 million; others think that number is inflated.
The staff gave priority to projects that improve safety and expand capacity, such as rebuilding tracks, culverts, tunnels, and bridges; a new signal system; station improvements; and some extra track so more trains can pass. The staff recommended that electrification wait until additional funding can be secured.
Mr. Schmidt wanted to be sure than nothing done to improve safety or speed would interfere with future electrification. He found no disagreement when he insisted, "Railroad improvements have to be compatible with electrification."
Following Mr.Schmidt's lead, the nine-member JPB appeared to agree that electrification should be the No. 1 goal for spending new capital on the system.
Over the next month a subcommittee will work out more exact wording for the Caltrain vision, and try to hammer out commitments on monetary contributions by each of the three counties.
The next meeting will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 6, at the Transportation building at 1250 San Carlos Ave. in San Carlos.
The nine board members appeared to agree that Caltrain should work harder to secure funds for electrification.
"Money is the most important thing. It is of overriding importance to be more aggressive in seeking money," said San Mateo Councilwoman Sue Lempert, who represents the regional Metropolitan Transportation Commission as a non-voting member of the JPB. "If you can get a commitment from all three counties, MTC will listen."
Confusing the priorities are specific projects for the three counties. San Francisco is once again interested in extending the rail line into downtown San Francisco, and Santa Clara County wants a new set of tracks to Gilroy to serve surging growth south of San Jose.
San Mateo County is looking for funds to extend rail service across the old Dumbarton railroad bridge to the East Bay, and to make a new connection with the airport light rail system.
Don McNamara of the California Rail Foundation, one of 10 speakers favoring electrification, told the JPB: "The biggest bang for the buck is electrification. You save 20 minutes by substituting electric for diesel locomotives."
To free up more money for electrification, JPB member and railroad professional Art Lloyd wanted to separate essential rebuilding projects, like replacing clickety-clack track, from less pressing ones like increasing train speed from 79 to 90 mph.
"We're trying to rebuild the fixer-upper railroad that we've got," he said. "Electrification should be the number-one priority when we have the money.
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