From: bm@bike2work.Eng.Sun.COM (Bill Michel)
Newsgroups: alt.activism,ca.environment,ba.transportation
Subject: CalTrain upgrades Abandoned
Date: 22 Jul 1992 17:04:34 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.  Mt. View, Ca.
Distribution: ba
Reply-To: bm@bike2work.Eng.Sun.COM (Bill Michel)
NNTP-Posting-Host: bike2work


SUMMARY:
The 1992 update of the CalTrain Plan 9year plan has been released, and
comparing it with previous years plan we see SamTrans is abandoning the
commitment to upgrade the service to BART-level frequency and the downtown
extension. It seems that now they "fooled" the state into issuing the rail
bond to buy the tracks, by promising improvements, we can reneg on them and
continue to run poor level service on the Pennisula.

The Draft CalTrain Short Range Plan for 1992, as proposed, is a dramatic step
back in a commitment for provide transit service on the Peninsula.  With the
West Bay Spending almost $1 billion on
a 6.5 mile BART extension that won't be open until 2002, but can't
find $15 million for additional locomotives to improve  
sometime in the next 10 years....

Letter are needed to public officials protesting the lack of commitment to
upgrade CalTrain.  Write to letters Chairman Tom Nolan and members, CalTrain
Joint Powers Board, 1250 San Carlos Blvd, San Carlos, CA 94070. 

Or send your letters 
via E-Mail to "RAIL2000@ AOL.COM and we will forward them on.

 
 1992 CalTrain Plan compared to previous years...

 The 1991 CalTrain Plan indicated a goal of a to 90 train a day schedule (20
 minute service) by 1998-99 and 114 trains a
 day (BART-level service) by 2005.  The 1992 plans indicates
 only plans for 66 train service through the year 2000--the 66 train goal was 
 originally targetted for Oct 1992 in the 1990 plan, but now is not set until
 for 1994. We now operate 60 trains a day.

 The 1991 Plan contained preface titled "Peninsula Public Transit
 a vision for the future" that outlined a commitment to 
 upgrade CalTrain and extend it to downtown SF. This vision
 for the service has been dropped by SamTrans.

 The 1991 Plan set as a target completion of a station accessibility study by
 end the year the would include parking
 needs, options for bus feeder service and bicycle access. This
 study was never done, and no explanation is given in the 1992
 plan.  Also, no discussion of how bus lines will be changed to
 connect with the new hourly CalTrain service now in operation.

 The late train problem that has plagued CalTrain for 6 month,
 is no where mentioned in the plan, nor are the issues raised
 by CalTrain riders in a recent survey for issues raised the
 the now disbanded CalTrain Citizens Advisory Committee.

 No discussion of TSM needs of employers and how CalTrain
 was working to meet them. 

 No discussion of goal IIB-1 in 1991 plan of to initiation
 bicycle demonstrataion problem in 1991-92 was not implemented.
  
  Plan calls for SamTrans to not release the SF Extenstion study
  for another 15 months--a study that has already been completed
  except for the financing plan.  Plan mentions a cost for the
  extension 200 million more than in 1991 plan, but offers no
  reference where this number comes from. SamTrans quoted
  an entirely different numbers for cost on different occassions.

  The 1992 plans continues the general trend of SamTrans 
  providing the public less and less imformation on the
  train--this years' plan contains 10% fewer words than
  1991, and its 58 page length compares rather unfavorably
  with the 174 page length of the 1988 plan written by
  Caltrans staff.  It continues to the trend to promise the
  public less and less transit service and set few and fewer
  goals for itself to solve the Peninsula's transit problems--
  and offers no explanation of why.

  Plan offers no analysis of community needs that needs or
  environment that train operates as a basis for setting its
  goals and objectives--the Caltrans plan did.

  The 1991 plan set as a goal for conversion of the train to highspeed electric
  locomotives by 1995, but electrification plan or targets have been withdrawn
  from the 1992 plan entirely.
--
Bill Michel			
bm@eng.sun.com		These views are my own, not Sun's.
Newsgroups: alt.activism,sci.environment,talk.politics.misc,alt.activism.d,talk.environment