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| Saturday, February 21, 06:20:36pm | [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ] |
| Subject: Caltrain officials brought high-speed rail on the Peninsula a step closer Thursday. | |
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Author: High-speed rail could be gravy train |
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Date Posted: Saturday, July 05, 11:14:35pm In reply to: San Diego, Calif., Monday, October 9, 2000 -- New York’s JFK International “Air Train,” 's message, "JFK Airport Access Light Rail To Offer “MetroCard" Compatibility" on Saturday, July 05, 11:12:45pm http://www.sanmateocountytimes.com/Stories/0,1413,87~11268~1494441,00.html High-speed rail could be gravy train By Justin Jouvenal, STAFF WRITER If you ask Caltrain officials why they like the idea of state high-speed rail, they will mention the convenience of 200 mph trains and another reason -- the system could be a gravy train for the Peninsula. High-speed rail could pump tens of millions of dollars into Caltrain upgrades that the transit agency would likely not be able to bankroll in the near future -- or at all. High-speed-rail officials are studying bringing the system up the Caltrain corridor, but before that could happen, a host of improvements would need to be made to the rail line. Many of the improvements were already on Caltrain's wish list. They include electrification, new track and grade separations. "There's a lot of improvements in our 20-year vision for the rail line that would also be needed for high-speed rail," said Jayme Maltbie Kunz, a Caltrain spokeswoman. "The two elements fit together nicely." Caltrain officials brought high-speed rail on the Peninsula a step closer Thursday. The transit agency entered into a formal agreement with the state High Speed Rail Authority to plan together and share information about equipment, service levels and facilities to determine if the systems are compatible. The agreement is a precursor to one that would allow high-speed rail to share the Caltrain corridor. It is the first formal agreement the two agencies have engaged in. "This is the beginning of the process," said Mehdi Morshed, the executive director of HSRA. "This is the first of many agreements over the coming years." HSRA officials are currently conducting an environmental review on the 700-mile system that could eventually stretch from Sacramento to San Diego. Trains would travel in excess of 200 mph, and a trip between Los Angeles and San Francisco could be completed in 2 hours and 30 minutes. The environmental review should be completed by the end of the year. In the Bay Area, high-speed rail could follow the Caltrain corridor between Gilroy and San Jose. At San Jose, the line might split, with trains heading to the East Bay and San Francisco. HSRA officials envision the high-speed electric trains sharing tracks with a similar electrified Caltrain system between San Jose and San Francisco. High-speed rail could also run on its own track in the Caltrain corridor or up the east side of Highway 101. Two potential stops are being planned in the County, at Redwood City and Millbrae. Morshed said Caltrain and high-speed trains could share things such as transformers that will allow Caltrain to defray costs. "Our systems will be very similar," Morshed said. The make-or-break moment for high-speed rail comes next fall, when state voters will be asked to approve a $9 billion bond to build the a portion of the system between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Another $950 million in the bond would go toward fixing up rail systems that would feed into the high-speed rail system. Staff writer Justin Jouvenal covers transportation issues. He can be reached at 348-4331 or by e-mail at jjouvenal@angnewspapers.com . [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
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| AC Transit board adopts deepest cuts in history | resolved in two weeks from July 5th | Saturday, July 05, 11:16:05pm |