[GPSCC-chat] Fw: Celebrate success on 7/14; funding and modernization update

[Caroline Yacoub]

--- On Sat, 7/9/11, Friends of Caltrain <friends at friendsofcaltrain.com> wrote:


From: Friends of Caltrain <friends at friendsofcaltrain.com>
Subject: Celebrate success on 7/14; funding and modernization update
To: carolineyacoub at att.net
Date: Saturday, July 9, 2011, 12:40 PM






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Thanks to everyone who wrote letters, emails, and spoke at meetings, and the diligent coordination of efforts by multiple agencies that control Caltrain's budget, Caltrain will keep running without cuts for another year.   This year, Caltrain is getting all-time record ridership.
It's time to celebrate the one-year victory, and build up for the effort to get Caltrain a stable source of funding.
Join Friends of Caltrain next Thursday July 14th, 5-6:30 at NOLA's in downtown Palo Alto, 535 Ramona Street.   No-host bar.  Hope to see you there :-)
Quick 1-2 year funding update
As we mentioned last week, the MTC approved the last element of operating funding so Caltrain is cleared to go ahead with a no-cuts schedule for 2012.   The CEOs of the 3 transit agencies have been meeting together to come up with a plan for a second year of Operating funding without schedule or station cuts.  

The Capital funding from the 3 partners is lower than Caltrain requested - $2.7 million per partner, instead of $4 million that Caltrain asked for.  The $4 million shortfall is resulting in cuts to Caltrain's maintenance budget.  This is very concerning, since Caltrain has record ridership and increasing schedule delays due to mechanical problems, as well as lesser delay from longer boarding times from the record ridership.  The biggest challenge for the Capital budget was in San Francisco. where they were having difficulty finding the money. We're sending special instructions to San Francisco members so decision-makers know that San Franciscans care about Caltrain. 
Caltrain modernization update
Last Friday, Marian Lee, Acting Director of the Caltrain modernization program, came to discuss their work on the capacity study for the Caltrain corridor and give an update on the program to electrify and modernize the line.   
This blog post has an in-depth update. The highlights are:
* Caltrain needs to plan to modernize, either in conjunction with High Speed Rail or with other funding
* Caltrain is currently conducting a critical capacity study which will answer key questions about the feasibility of running some high speed train service in the current Caltrain right of way. This study is expected to show preliminary results at the end of July.  The results will be key to next steps for the Caltrain/HSR blended solution, and for community support.
* If the High Speed Rail blended solution does not pan out, Caltrain will need to modernize with a regional plan.  Money raised locally could be matched with 4:1 leverage with state and federal funds when such fund become available. Caltrain is working with regional partners to update the a plan for regional rail, that will be submitted as part of the region's transportation planning process, which will be complete in 2013.
For more details about the discussion, see the blog post on Caltrain modernization plans. 
Follow up steps
There are several follow up topics:
* Caltrain will be back to describe the results of the blended implementation capacity study
* Attendees had questions about the plans for Positive Train Control/CBOSS. Marian Lee wants to bring the right peopel with technical background to answer the questions
* The plans for Regional Rail will be discussed at an upcoming Friends of Caltrain steering committee meeting.
If you are interested in these in-depth steering committee meetings and want to volunteer more intensively for Friends of Caltrain, contact friends at frendsofcaltrain.com
Hope to see you at the party - together we'll keep Caltrain running for the long term.
- Adina
Friends of Caltrain
http://friendsofcaltrain.com

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