Like it or not, the Peninsula and Bay Area are still growing. And the 40 percent more people projected to live here by 2050 will result in a great many more trips than today’s stressed transit systems can carry.
As part of the solution, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), together with BART and Caltrain, are finalizing a Regional Rail Plan for 2050 that addresses improvement and expansion of the region’s railroads to handle increased demand for both passengers and freight.
This is the first long-range rail plan for the Bay Area in 50 years, Consultant Howard Goode told a crowded audience at a workshop in San Carlos on Aug. 27. The previous rail plan, in 1957, showed BART ringing the Bay — which didn’t happen after San Mateo County pulled out of BART in 1962.
The new plan calls for “ringing the Bay” by extending BART to San Jose and upgrading Caltrain on the Peninsula. “The BART and Caltrain systems are the backbone,” Mr. Goode said. “They provide comparable service.”
The planners are looking at how to use the freight railroads, mostly in the East Bay, to serve passengers as well, Mr. Goode said. Freight is increasing hugely, especially around the Port of Oakland. “By 2050, freight will increase more than 350 percent,” he said.
In addition, houses are rapidly sprouting in the Central Valley for people who work in the Bay Area. “That translates into trips,” Mr. Goode added.
Improvements to the Caltrain main line up the Peninsula will come in phases, Mr. Goode said. Electrification will allow Caltrain to run lightweight cars faster and more frequently. Over the years, tracks will be added, and more grade crossings built.
Three major projects in the 2050 plan would make the Peninsula more accessible by rail:
• Reviving passenger rail service across the Bay over the old Dumbarton Bridge to connect with the Altamont Commute Express to the Central Valley, and other East Bay rail and bus lines.
• Extension of Caltrain into downtown San Francisco to a new TransBay Terminal.
• Construction of a new double-decker transit tube under San Francisco Bay, near the present BART tube, to accommodate both BART and Caltrain.
The draft regional rail plan also includes analysis of how high-speed rail service from Southern California could “enhance and accelerate funding” for local rail lines. High-speed rail — if it is ever approved and funded — might contribute funding for grade separations and extra tracks.
The draft rail plan also analyzes the two proposed high-speed routes into the Bay Area: across Pacheco Pass and up the Caltrain line; and across Altamont Pass, with a Bay crossing at the Dumbarton to Redwood City, and then San Francisco.
Critiques
Twenty-six people attending the workshop gave their opinions about some aspect of the draft rail plan.Speaking for the Caltrain board, Chief Development Officer Ian McAvoy gave “full support” for the plan. He recommended the Pacheco Pass route for high-speed rail.
Several transit watchers asked for more information on ridership studies.
Residents of Atherton and Burlingame mourned the loss of local service and worried about the impact of even more high speed trains. Bobbi Benson of Burlingame said: “I’m concerned about how this may separate our town even more. We need the milk runs.”
Atherton Mayor Jerry Carlson foresaw trouble when residents learn what is proposed through Atherton. “Ninety-nine point nine percent of our residents have no idea of what the plan is and how it would impact our community,” he said.
James Janz, vice mayor of Atherton and chair of the Atherton Rail Committee, called for bringing BART back to the Peninsula between Millbrae and San Jose. “We made a mistake 45 years ago,” he said. “Did you ever look at replacing Caltrain with BART?”
Mr. Janz also recommended the Altamont route for high-speed rail. He suggested running the fast trains up the East Bay and through the new Bay tube to San Francisco. If the Pacheco Pass route is selected, he suggested looking at running the route up the 280 corridor from San Jose to San Francisco.
“High-speed rail along the Caltrain corridor is not necessary or desirable,” Mr. Janz wrote in a letter commenting on the plan.
INFORMATION
• The draft regional rail plan will come before the Planning Committee of the Metropolita Transportation Commission at its meeting Friday, Sept. 14, and before the full MTC for action at its meeting Sept. 26 in Oakland. For information, go to bayarearailplan.info; or the MTC Web site at mtc.ca.gov/planning/rail.• The California High Speed Rail Authority is conducting a review of its program Environmental Impact Report/Study on the proposed statewide high-speed train system. Comments may be submitted through Sept. 28 to the California High Speed Rail Authority, EIR?EIS Comments, 925 L Street, Suite 1425, Sacramento, CA 95814; Att’n: Dan Leavitt. For information, go to /www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/.
