Atherton lobbies for train service Atherton lobbies for train service (January 14, 2004)

** New option could restore weekend stops.

By Andrea Gemmet

Almanac Staff Writer

Weekend train service to Atherton could resume under a schedule option released by Caltrain late last week.

Atherton officials embarked on a campaign to preserve Caltrain service to the town after learning that the proposed spring 2004 schedule, which includes new "baby bullet" trains, would eliminate all weekend train service to the town and reduce weekday train stops by more than one-third.

While the proposed cuts in weekday service to Atherton remain unchanged, a new "option C" would restore hourly weekend trains. Weekend train service has been suspended since February to accommodate construction of railway improvements necessitated by the new baby bullet service.

Atherton's efforts to raise public awareness about the schedule and pressure Caltrain to restore service include circulating a petition, which went out to residents in last week's Almanac and is posted around town. An article about the Caltrain schedule is also in the current edition of the town newsletter, the Athertonian.

As of Friday morning, the town had received more than 150 petition signatures, including those of U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, former Atherton councilwoman Didi Fisher and Floyd Gonella, acting superintendent of the Ravenswood school district and former county superintendent of schools.

After the town complained that Caltrain officials weren't being responsive, last week's meeting of the Atherton's Caltrain Corridor Subcommittee had two representatives from the railroad in attendance -- chief officer of operations Chuck Harvey and train engineer Dan Klitzing.

Mr. Harvey said he would attend the town's public hearing on Caltrain issues set for Tuesday, January 27, at 7 p.m. in the Atherton council chambers, according to Councilman Jim Janz. The meeting will likely include a short presentation on the history of the railroad in Atherton, then open up to public comments, Mr. Janz said.

Committee members want to gather residents' responses to the proposed cuts in train service and present them to the Caltrain Joint Powers Board at its February 5 meeting, when that body is scheduled to consider the spring schedule proposals, he said.

The SamTrans Citizen Advisory Committee has also weighed in with a resolution favoring a return to weekend train service, passed at its January 7 meeting, said Atherton City Manager Jim Robinson. Atherton is hoping for a similar resolution at the January 21 meeting of the Caltrain Citizen Advisory Committee, he said.

On top of an already heavy schedule of Caltrain-related meetings, the railroad is holding three public workshops on its recently released draft strategic plan. Those workshops are set for January 26 in Santa Clara, January 28 at Caltrain headquarters in San Carlos, and January 29 in San Francisco.
INFORMATION

Information about the proposed spring train schedule, the draft strategic plan and the workshops is available at www.Caltrain.com. For information about the January 27 meeting in Atherton, call 752-0500.

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