Final Environmental Report To Electrify Caltrain Receives Clearance

Source: Caltrain (Press Release)

The plan to electrify Caltrain will achieve a major milestone pending certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report and Project Adoption on April 1 by the Board of Directors.

Approval by the board completes the environmental process for the Caltrain Electrification Program, a major element of the plans to modernize the Peninsula rail system, and positions the railroad to seek federal and state funding.

“Electrification is the future of Caltrain,” said Caltrain Chair Sean Elsbernd, “and this puts us in an ideal position to pursue federal and state funding. This is a major step forward for our efforts.”

Caltrain prepared a combined environmental document for the electrification program: an Environmental Assessment/Final EIR. Approval of the Environmental Assessment and Certification of the Final EIR are critical steps in enabling Caltrain to compete for federal and state funds. Environmental clearance is a key criterion for funding investment decisions.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act, the Federal Transit Administration issued the Findings of No Significant Impact for the Environmental Assessment in 2009. The Final EIR is required by the state under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Public participation has been an important component of the complex project. To solicit input on the Environmental Assessment/Draft EIR, four formal public hearings were held in 2004 throughout the Caltrain service area and the meetings were widely publicized. Additionally, the Environmental Assessment/Draft EIR was available for public review and comment from April 12, 2004 through May 25, 2004. Staff also met with representatives from cities and other public agencies about the project. All of the comments received during this period have been included and addressed in the Environmental Assessment/Final EIR.

Last year, persons who submitted comments on the Environmental Assessment/Draft EIR, as well as elected officials and public agencies in the Caltrain service area, received a newsletter updating them on the status of the electrification program. Public agencies that commented on the Environmental Assessment/Draft EIR within the public review period have received copies of the Environmental Assessment/Final EIR.

The electrification program is the critical modernization program to ensure a vibrant future for Caltrain. It anticipates an electrified rail system from the San Francisco Caltrain Station to the Tamien station in San Jose. The system is powered by overhead wires and designed to minimize visual impact.

In addition, the electrification program calls for converting the Caltrain rolling stock from its current diesel locomotive-powered cars to Electric Multiple Units in use throughout the world. The EMUs feature greatly enhanced performance that will enable Caltrain to provide more service.

The electrification of Caltrain also will result in significant reductions in noise and air pollution. The Environmental Assessment/Final EIR concludes that the electrified system will be quieter than the current diesel equipment and will mean a 90 percent reduction in emissions.

Following the board action, the Final EIR will be filed with the State Clearinghouse. The public has 30 days to review the report.

The Environmental Assessment/Final EIR is posted on the Caltrain Web site: www.caltrain.com/caltrain2025.html. Questions can be directed to Stacy Cocke, senior planner at cockes@samtrans.com or 650.508.6207

See Also: Caltrain Addresses Recent Delays / Caltrain Holiday Train Collects More Than 4,000 Toys / Caltrain Beats Traffic To The KPFA Crafts & Music Fair / Live Entertainment Lights Up Caltrain Holiday Train / Caltrain Gears Up For A Busy Holiday Schedule

Caltrain Addresses Recent Delays

Source: Caltrain (Press Release)

Wheelchair lift won’t retract. Signal is displaying red. Engine won’t start. Trespasser steps in path of train. No matter what the reason it has the same result: delayed trains, resulting, more importantly, in delayed customers. And Caltrain has had more than its fair share lately and it apologizes for any inconvenience its customers have experienced.

You might say, “But I was three trains behind the one that wouldn’t start” or “I was traveling in the opposite direction; what gives?” That illustrates how orchestrated and tightly connected the Caltrain service is. One train incident can cause a domino effect. If the delayed train can’t get out of the way of other trains, they too will be delayed. Also, if the train can’t get to its destination on time and “flip” to head in the opposite direction, those customers also will be late. The 90 weekday trains are operated with only 20 train sets. That means that one train sets plays an integral role in moving Caltrain’s customers.

While Caltrain has implemented a number of contingencies, such as a stand-by set of equipment and crossovers to bypass breakdowns, customers still feel the impact when the problems are bigger than the contingencies.

Caltrain staff has been conducting an evaluation of both the locomotive and passenger car fleet to identify areas of maintenance that should be enhanced to not only provide increased reliability but to provide the ride quality and comfort level the passenger expects. Caltrain staff also is working diligently with its contract operator, Amtrak, to reduce delays and refocus on preventative maintenance.

When there is a major service disruption, Caltrain’s goal is to get service restored as quickly as possible. That may entail having one train pass, or “overtake”, another train so that it can get to its destination and cover service in the other direction. It never feels good to be at a station waiting for a train, feel relieved when you see the approaching headlight, then super frustrated as the trains speeds through the station. While it’s the best way to get service back on track, it’s a disservice to Caltrain’s customers to not let them know what’s going on. To rectify that, Caltrain is committed to improving its communication with customers.

During delays, announcements will be made every 10 minutes onboard trains and at stations. The station announcements will include both public address messages as well as visual messages, if the infrastructure is in place. By mid next year, Caltrain will be offering real-time information on train status.

Caltrain will continue to work diligently on meeting your expectations for on-time service.

See Also: Caltrain Holiday Train Collects More Than 4,000 Toys / Caltrain Beats Traffic To The KPFA Crafts & Music Fair / Live Entertainment Lights Up Caltrain Holiday Train / Caltrain Gears Up For A Busy Holiday Schedule

Caltrain Holiday Train Collects More Than 4,000 Toys

Source: Caltrain (Press Release)

The holiday season will be brighter for thousands of children thanks to the generosity of people who donated toys during Caltrain’s ninth annual Holiday Train last weekend, Dec. 5 and 6.
In conjunction with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program and the Salvation Army, the Caltrain Holiday Train received a total of 4,045 donated toys and books and $2,304 in cash donations from visitors to the stations. Since the first Holiday Train in 2001, approximately 43,755 gifts have been generated for needy Bay Area children.

Working at the San Francisco rail yard at Sixth and Townsend streets, Caltrain staff and volunteers spent weeks decorating the train for this festive tradition.

Thousands of children and adults came out to see the spectacularly lighted train, which visited nine train stations between San Francisco and Santa Clara over the weekend. Kids of all ages got a chance to meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, Frosty and other holiday characters and enjoy music provided by the San Francisco Corps of the Salvation Army band and on-board choruses.
The Caltrain Holiday Train would not be possible without support for decorations, wiring and costumes from the following sponsors: Linear Technology Corporation, HNTB Corporation, Parsons Brinckerhoff, the Port of San Francisco, Shimmick Construction Company Inc. and Rinat.

The San Mateo County Times, The Daily Journal and Radio Disney are the event’s media sponsors, and in-kind donations are being provided by Peterson Power Systems of San Leandro, Raison D'etre bakery and the San Francisco Caltrain Station Subway.

Amtrak, Caltrain’s contractor operator, and the San Mateo County Transit District also are partners in the event.

See Also: Caltrain Beats Traffic To The KPFA Crafts & Music Fair / Live Entertainment Lights Up Caltrain Holiday Train / Caltrain Gears Up For A Busy Holiday Schedule

Caltrain Beats Traffic To The KPFA Crafts & Music Fair

Source: Caltrain (Press Release)

People who love crafts, music and trains can take Caltrain to the 39th Annual KPFA Crafts & Music Fair Dec. 12 and 13. The fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Concourse Exhibition Center on Eighth and Brannan streets in San Francisco.

Every year, more than 10,000 collectors, craft enthusiasts and holiday shoppers attend this signature event that features 220 artisans from across the country, a gourmet food pavilion and live performances.

The event will provide shuttles from the San Francisco Caltrain station to meet northbound trains every hour at 36 minutes after the hour, from 9:36 a.m. to 3:36 p.m., and to meet southbound trains every hour on the hour, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Caltrain tickets must be purchased before boarding the train, and Ticket Vending Machines are available at all stations. For fare and schedule information, call 1.800.660.4287 (TTY 650.508.6448).

See Also: Live Entertainment Lights Up Caltrain Holiday Train / Caltrain Gears Up For A Busy Holiday Schedule

Live Entertainment Lights Up Caltrain Holiday Train

Source: CalTrain (Press Release)

The glittering Caltrain Holiday Train, which will stop at nine stations the weekend of Dec. 5 and 6, has become a popular showcase for local musicians. Live performances, onboard the train and at each station before the train’s arrival, help get everyone into the spirit of the season.

Each evening kicks off with a performance at 4:45 p.m. before the train departs the San Francisco station at 4th and King streets at 5:20 p.m.

The Salvation Army, one of Caltrain’s partners in the Holiday Train, has produced some of the most outstanding brass bands in the world and two of them will perform for Holiday Train audiences. A band representing the San Francisco corps will be onboard the train Saturday and Sunday night. The Santa Clara corps will perform at the last stops each night, Santa Clara on Saturday and Sunnyvale on Sunday.

Saturday night, Masterworks Chorale, one of Northern California’s finest choral ensembles, will join the band onboard the train. The group’s guest appearances include performances with the San Francisco Symphony and the San Francisco Opera, and now, thanks to the Holiday Train, Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Sunday, the Salvation Army will accompany the Menlo Park Chorus. Now in its 10th year, the chorus combines musical training and discipline with a neighborly feeling. Two high school choirs will entertain audiences at stations. The choir from San Bruno’s Capuchino High School will perform at 5:20 p.m. Saturday at the Burlingame station. “We couldn’t be more excited about our appearance,” said Director Justin Cottrell. “We have a host of great songs that we have been practicing all semester as well as some holiday favorites.” The choir from El Camino High School in South San Francisco will perform at 5:10 p.m. Sunday at the San Bruno station.

The Holiday Train’s second stop on Saturday will be in Redwood City. The City has incorporated the Holiday Train into its annual Hometown Holiday’s event. The outdoor party includes snow, a parade, fireworks and a late-night holiday movie. At 6:00 p.m., the Woodside High School Band will perform at the train station.

Also on Saturday, the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra Sinfonia, will perform at the Menlo Park station at 6:55 p.m. The emphasis on chamber music lies at the core of this award-winning youth string orchestra’s success. The West Bay Model Railroad will be open to visitors from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The display, which dates from the mid-century, features HO, S and O model rail cars zipping through tunnels and over bridges.

The Holiday Train will make its final stop of the evening at the Santa Clara station, home of the South Bay Historical Railroad Society. The display in the historic depot, which will be open from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., includes HO- and N-scale model railroad displays depicting various railroad eras.

The fun continues on Sunday at the San Mateo station where the Golden Chordsmen Barbershop Chorus, a competitive a cappella group, will perform at 5:45 p.m.

At the California Avenue station, the Peninsulaires, the Palo Alto/Mountain View chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, will perform at 7 p.m.

Along the way the train will pick up toys and books for the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program and the Salvation Army’s holiday toy drive.

The Caltrain Holiday Train would not be possible without support for decorations, wiring and costumes from the following sponsors: Linear Technology Corporation, HNTB Corporation, Parsons Brinckerhoff, the Port of San Francisco, Shimmick Construction Company Inc. and Rinat.

The San Mateo County Times, The Daily Journal and Radio Disney are the event’s media sponsors, and in-kind donations are being provided by Peterson Power Systems of San Leandro, Raison D'etre bakery and the San Francisco Caltrain station Subway.

Amtrak, Caltrain’s contractor operator, and the San Mateo County Transit District also are partners in the event.

See Also: Caltrain Gears Up For A Busy Holiday Schedule

Caltrain Gears Up For A Busy Holiday Schedule

Source: Caltrain (Press Release)

Eliminate Those Holiday Driving Blues to the Airport with Public Transit

Skip the bumper-to-bumper airport traffic and avoid parking hassles this season by leaving the driving to SamTrans or Caltrain. Public transit for holiday travelers to the San Francisco or San Jose airports is convenient and inexpensive.

To San Francisco International Airport:
SamTrans buses deliver holiday travelers to the curb at four airport locations:

Terminal 2, Level 1, Roadway Center Island
Terminal 3, Level 1, Courtyard 4
International Terminal, Courtyard A
International Terminal, Courtyard G

SamTrans provides service from the Peninsula and San Francisco to SFO on three routes: 292 (San Mateo to San Francisco) and KX (Palo Alto to San Francisco) and 397 (Palo Alto to San Francisco). Passengers traveling from north of the airport to the airport with more than a carryon are advised to take Route 292 because of a luggage restriction on Route KX. The luggage restriction does not apply south of the airport.

Caltrain passengers can get to SFO on weekdays by transferring at the shared Caltrain-BART Millbrae Intermodal Station to BART for a quick trip to the San Bruno station. Once there, travelers will board an SFO BART train. Evenings and weekends, BART offers direct service from Millbrae to the airport.

To Mineta San Jose International Airport:
For passengers flying out of San Jose, Caltrain connects with Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority's free Route 10 Airport Flyer bus at the Santa Clara Caltrain Station.

For information about fares and schedules, call 1-800-660-4287 (TTY 650-508-6448).