STImULUS: VIEWS FROm 3 EXPERTS PAGE 6

Volume 21 Number 2 Sacramento, CA April 2009 Dumbarton Back on Track? JUDGE TO HEAR FUNDING DIVERSION CASE

The $91 million MTC grant to rebuild Warm Springs BART Extension. The bike route over Dumbarton Bridge with the unused railroad facility in the Dumbarton rail bridge for Caltrain On January 28, 2009, MTC vacuumed may be restored to its original purpose $91 million out of the Dumbarton project the background. MTC wants to wait and the transfer of over $320 million to and gave it to the BART Extension. MTC decades before funding revival of the a deadend 5-mile BART project may be asserted that it was authorized to make line. Photo © by Richard Tolmach blocked, following the March 20 decision that transfer, because the the project was of an Alameda County judge to hear a tax- to be “implemented with other funds not payer lawsuit filed by transit activists. derived from tolls” sometime between INSIDE Former BART Directors Sherman 2019 and 2027. Plaintiffs say this violates Lewis and Roy Nakadegawa, and the RM2 provisions because it would delay Transportation Solutions Defense and the project for more than a decade and PAGE 2 Education Fund, TRANSDEF, filed suit provide less funding because of inflation. hreaTens against the Metropolitan Transportation Also, the substitute project is not UP T Commission (MTC) and other agencies “within the same bridge corridor.” The acTion over hsr and their senior staff, asking the Alameda Dumbarton Rail Project is an east-west County Superior Court to restore regional crossing of the Bay and would connect on PeninsUla funding to Dumbarton and prevent trans- with Caltrain, Capitol Corridor Amtrak fer of Alameda County funds to the Warm trains (Sacramento to San Jose), the Springs BART Extension project. Union City BART stop and the Altamont PAGE 4-5 The plaintiffs assert this would be Commuter Express (Stockton to San Jose). an illegal expenditure of public funds, The Warm Springs line is a north-south KoPP vs. s.F. on because these agencies violated the will extension of BART that does not cross of the voters when they ignored funding the Bay and has no connection with any FUnding PrioriTies restrictions in recent ballot measures. other rail project. In short, it does not When Bay Area voters approved meet a key goal of the Plan, which calls Regional Measure 2 in 2004, raising the for “regional transit connectivity.” PAGE 7 toll on state-owned bridges in the Bay The Warm Springs extension would Area by a dollar, the MTC was authorized extend BART to a vacant industrial area los angeles sees to spend RM2 funds on a specific list of five miles south of the current Fremont projects, including Dumbarton rail and the station, at a price of nearly $1 billion. new MeTro linKs (continued on Page Two)

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MEMBERS, PLEASE CHECK THE RENEWAL DATE ABOVE YOUR NAME AND RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP IF THE DATE IS APPROACHING OR PAST MTC Fund Grab: Activists Sue to Restore (continued from Page One) Besides plummeting sales tax revenues, to the BART extension. In their eagerness When voters in Alameda County VTA’s project budget presumes a $750 to funnel $315 million to the BART proj- approved Measure B in 2000, the promise million grant from the federal govern- ect, government agencies ignored legal to voters was that “funds for construc- ment, which VTA has not even applied for. restrictions established by the voters. tion of the first segment of the BART rail Plaintiffs are asking the Court to find that According to Sherman Lewis, a BART extension to Warm Springs in southern ACTIA violated the terms of Measure B director who represented part of Alameda Fremont may not be used until full fund- by approving construction funding for the County from 1993-1996, “these agencies ing for the rail connection to Santa Clara BART extension. take voters’ money from one project and County is assured.” Plaintiffs are asking the Court to find spend it on something else. Stewardship However, funding for the BART exten- that MTC violated the terms of Regional is making sure the money stays where the sion to San Jose is far from assured. Measure 2 by approving a transfer of funds voters intended.” Roy Nakadegawa, a BART director who represented another part of Alameda County from 1992-2004, said, “A BART UP Suggests It Will Block extension to Warm Springs can’t be built with Measure B money unless there is money to connect it to Santa Clara County. Peninsula HSR Rebuild That money doesn’t exist—and shouldn’t. In a hard-hitting four-page letter sent Union Pacific also cited its operating A BART extension to San Jose would to the High-Speed Rail Authority in late rights on Main Track No. 1 between Santa waste many billions of dollars.” February, the Union Pacific Railroad has Clara and Diridon Station, as well as south Following nearly five years of engi- raised the voltage on its objections to high three miles to Lick and warned that the neering work, the current estimates of the speed rail on facilities it shares with public Authority must not undertake any action Warm Springs to Santa Clara line's cost are agencies. The letter is seen by HSRA staff that interferes with their ownership or now $7.5 billion, making it the least cost- as a precursor to negotiations, but others operation without prior approval. On the effective transit service proposal nation- view the tone as indicating an intention segment south from Lick to Gilroy, UP wide, and about three times the price of a to undermine the choice of Pacheco and mentioned its “complete ownership and high-speed line serving the same corridor. block action on HSRA Peninsula upgrades. control of the right-of-way,” saying PCJPB David Schonbrunn, President of Union Pacific informed the HSRA that and VTA rights were limited to operation TRANSDEF stated, “We have better and although it sold the Peninsula line to the of up to ten commuter trains daily. less expensive ideas for connecting the Joint Powers Board that beyond freight According to UP, “Neither agency has South Bay to the East Bay. Politicians have operating rights it “retains all rights and any ownership rights in the line and no been fixated on BART, when they should obligations relating to intercity passenger contractual rights to allow third parties to be thinking high-speed rail.” service provide by Amtrak or any other use this line. Union Pacific has no intention operator, at Union Pacific’s sole election.” of allowing or permitting the Authority The line is not currently used for inter- to build or operate the HSR within Union city passenger service but such use was Pacific’s right of way southward of Lick.“ California planned by the HSRA. UP demanded study and mitigation in The Union Pacific reiterated its intent the EIR/EIS of all the following problems, to keep and expand its freight business to as well as agreement by the Authority to ports and other facilities on the line, and assume all liability and increased costs Rail News set the groundwork for a protracted legal for the railroad: “Slow speed freight trains battle over any changes in the Peninsula and high-speed rail trains are incompatible Published 4 times annually by the facility that would hamper its operations. on the same tracks at any time, including California Rail Foundation “Union Pacific will deem any attempt cross-overs. Union Pacific requires over- in cooperation with the Train Riders Association of California by HSR to interfere with Union Pacific’s head clearance of 23 feet 6 inches, which property and contract rights on the San is higher than the Authority contemplates William McGeehan, TRAC President Francisco to San Jose line as an attempt for its electrical system. The Authority Signed articles represent the views of their to force a de facto abandonment of freight must provide grade-separated cross-overs authors, not necessarily those of the above service in violation of federal law.“ for freight trains at necessary locations. organizations. UP specifically enumerated the Quint The Authority must not contemplate opera- tion of freight trains on any HSR trackage 1025 Ninth Street #223 Street lead in San Francisco immediately Sacramento, CA 95814-3516 north of Tunnel 3 near Jerrold Street, the at any time (and vice-versa). If necessary, completely separate freight trackage must Telephone: 916-557-1667 Port of Redwood City on the Redwood e-mail: [email protected] Junction lead track, and the Granite Rock be provided. HSR must comply with all www.calrailnews.com facility at South San Francisco, as being applicable FRA regulations.” www.trainriders.org sensitive issues. In each case the letter Union Pacific’s stance appears to make California Rail News encourages letters, comments, says “The Authority must not undertake the HSRA selection of Pacheco infea- and reports on local issues. Please submit your mate- sible, a fact that seems to be dawning on rial to California Rail News at the above address. any action that interferes with operations Sorry, we do not guarantee return of photos or arti- at the yard and adjoining trackage without South Bay politicians. It's unfortunate that cles submitted. Deadline for material to be included prior approval from Union Pacific, the Port, California may have lost eight years pursu- in the next issue of CRN is May 15, 2009. and the customers at the location.“ ing a plan that has implementation issues. Join TRAC and Help Fight for Improved Trains Clip & mail with your check or money order payable to: To help TRAC regain paid full- Train Riders Association of California (TRAC) time staff, I am enclosing a special 1025 Ninth St. #223 Sacramento, CA 95814-3516 (916) 557-1667 donation of $

Please fill out the following, or attach address label: ______Regular member $30-59 Enclosed is a donation to TRAC’s Contributing member $60-124 Legislative Action Fund in the Name amount of $ ______Sponsoring member $125-249 Street Sustaining member $250-499 I want to support the Rail News. Enclosed is a tax-deductible Benefactor $500-2000 donation to the California Rail City State Zip Foundation in Limited income $20-39 the amount of $ ______Telephone E-mail Renewal New Member

2 California Rail News February–April 2009 Coast D.C. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Observations TRAIN DAY is Saturday, May 9 and by Randell Hansen railroads due to the slow economy and celebrations are planned in major cit- TRAC Treasurer delays in shipments. The President of ies statewide… LESS THAN A YEAR the American Association of Railroads after an addled Sierra Club lobby- Barack Obama was sworn in as Edward Hamberger said, “Support for the ist brokered a bad compromise to 44th President of the United States and nation’s infrastructure, must include sup- put high-speed rail on a destructive longtime Amtrak commuter Joe Biden port for freight railroads.” path through wetlands and wilder- became Vice-President on January 20. The Senate Judiciary Committee ness as long as the line would not Three days prior to the inauguration, have a station in the middle of wet- Obama and Biden rode a special Amtrak approved S.144, The Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009 by a vote of lands near Los Banos, local officials train from Philadelphia (Biden boarded in started a campaign to reinstate the Wilmington, DE) to Washington. 14-0 on March 5. S.144 was authored by Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI). The House station. Mayor Tommy Jones of Los In Minnesota, after recounting bal- version, HR 233 is being sponsored by Banos says he thinks “we still have lots Al Franken (DFL) was declared win- Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). a fight ahead but will end up win- ner over Norm Coleman (R) by 225 votes. The legislation includes the removal ning.“ Heat from Sacramento-based Coleman’s campaign has since challenged land speculators is probably the the election citing inconsistent counting of antitrust exemptions for the railroad industry and empowers the Federal Trade underlying cause. The speculators and the disallowing of 4,800 absentee put down more than $20 million on ballots. As of this writing, the decision by Commission (FTC) to engage in antitrust enforcement regarding collective rate agricultural land that is now nearly the courts hasn’t been made. Coleman has worthless, despite development been a strong Amtrak supporter, and was agreements, railroad mergers, and acqui- sitions. Shippers have been complaining rights obtained from Merced County, instrumental in getting funding for the due to collapse of the Valley hous- Twin Cities’ North Star commuter service. about increased rates and The Consumers United for Rail Equity, a consortium of ing bubble… AFTER SEVEN YEARS, After the inauguration, the 111th railroad customers, is supporting for more ROGER SNOBLE has turned over the Congress and the President worked on an regulation of freight rail. Union Pacific Los Angeles County Metropolitan economic stimulus package. Passed by the CEO Jim Young said if Congress gets Transportation Authority (Metro) House on January 28 by a vote of 244-188 more involved in regulating prices, “I will Chief Executive Officer reins to and the Senate on February 13 by a vote of cut our capital spending. We’re taking this Arthur Leahy, who left a similar job 60-38, H.R. 1, The American Recovery and threat seriously.” at the Orange County Transportation Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed by Authority to take the position. President Obama on February 17. Included Most of Amtrak’s routes use tracks owned and maintained by the big four Southland transit watchers expect in the $787 billion package was: $8.4 bil- major changes at both systems… lion for transit, $1.3 billion for Amtrak, freight railroads: BNSF, Union Pacific, CSX, and Norfolk Southern. Last December A NORTH-SOUTH SPLIT in CA rail and $8 billion for high-speed rail projects. transit culture has the Los Angeles Highways received $29 billion and airports BNSF completed a triple track project over Cajon Pass, used by the Amtrak basin spawning one successful rail $1.1 billion. ED NOTE: See Bob Huddy's line after another, while Northern H.R. 1 funding summary on Page 6. Southwest Chief and the March 2009 edi- tion of Trains magazine reported that by California projects are stymied by Amtrak plans to use its H.R. 1 stimu- the end of 2008 UP was 60% complete on bad planning, lack of vision, and lus funds to refurbish 68 passenger rail the job of double tracking its route from outright corruption. Consider the cars, amounting to $82 million and $60 Los Angeles to El Paso, used by Amtrak’s Expo Line under construction to link million to install positive train control Sunset Limited. Santa Monica and much of west cen- (PTC) on the New York – Washington and Despite increasing support for rail so tral LA with the regional network Porter, Indiana – Kalamazoo, Michigan by 2014 for under $2 billion, while segments. The route in Michigan is aim- far by the federal government, funding pri- marily is geared towards capital improve- a similar length BART line in Santa ing to achieve speeds up to 110 mph Clara County that has corralled most sometime this year. On March 11, the ments not current operations. Current level of transit service in a number of states Bay Area funds will cost four times President signed the federal budget for that much and won't be completed the rest of fiscal year 2009 which allocates and areas isn’t certain as states, counties, local municipalities, and transit agencies for nearly 20 years… SURFLINER $1.49 billion for Amtrak. Prior to Bush 10-RIDE fares are more attractively leaving office, a continuing resolution was are struggling with further deficits and declining tax revenues. priced starting this spring, particu- passed to fund the federal government up larly on the lightly travelled northern to March 2009. The federal deficit is now over $10 tril- segment of the route. Amtrak also is Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) became Chair lion and China has voiced concerns about the value of US Treasuries they’ve been capping lightly used long-distance of the Senate Commerce, Science, and commute fares to try to grow traf- Transportation Committee with long-time buying, which help fund the federal gov- ernment’s programs, including Amtrak. fic… SENATOR ROY ASHBURN Amtrak supporter Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Bakersfield) has introduced a (R-TX) becoming ranking member. The slow economy and the possibility of increasing regulations for freight railroads bill to require Caltrans to study the California Senator Barbara Boxer is also on potential of increasing San Joaquin that committee. could undermine any improvements to speeds or on-time performance for pas- ridership by extending service over President Obama’s pick for Secretary senger rail despite funding allocations for the Altamont Corridor to the Bay of Transportation, former Illinois Member capital improvements. Area. The routing has the potential of Congress Ray LaHood (R) was con- of providing a single-seat ride from firmed by the US Senate on January 22. Central Valley cities to San Francisco Donna McClean, who chaired the Amtrak or San Jose. Many observers believe board prior to Bush leaving office, stepped THE TOXIC San Joaquin ridership would double down from chair title, allowing Thomas or triple if San Francisco and its Carper, the mayor of Maccomb, IL to be international airport were directly become the new chairman of Amtrak. On TROLLEY? served… WHAT'S THE WORST March 18, the President nominated Joe What's a good name for Sacramento California rail stimulus project? Szabo from the United Transportation Regional Transit’s proposed $60 million Some Capitol Corridor commuters Union (UTU) to head the Federal Railroad one-stop extension to a vacant site in say it is the Sacramento proposal to Administration (FRA). If confirmed by the its most toxic industrial district, appar- relocate the Union Pacific line and Senate he will be the first person from the ently to enrich a land speculator? One-car Amtrak platforms away from down- labor ranks to head the FRA. trains are planned because ridership is so town, breaking the light rail connec- The freight railroads have been lob- sparse, but the route will duplicate other tion and putting an isolated platform bying for tax incentives to help finance runs past five stops where RT has also a quarter mile away from shelter infrastructure improvements, but instead despoiled neighborhoods with constant and services surrounded by toxic fear more regulations from the new PA announcements, train buzzers and land and abandoned contaminated Congress and Administration. Farmers, crossing gate bells. Once service starts, industrial buildings. Riders fear the manufacturers, and shippers are pressur- automated train announcements will blast so-called improvement will actually ing the federal government to do more 24 times an hour instead of the current 16. mean years of longer commutes and to control the rates and prices of freight Send your suggestions to trac@omsoft. unpleasant conditions.

California Rail News February–April 2009 3 Kopp in Firestorm with S.F. Over Projects Letter French See Role in by Richard F. Tolmach first phase? What is the position of the High- Without informing his board, and Speed Rail Authority?” HSR System Design sans any vote, Judge Quentin Kopp sent Morshed disavowed Kopp’s position and a list on Authority letterhead to Senator said the Authority had no official stance, by Richard F. Tolmach mize the added value created by their Dianne Feinstein of projects that “the but he had trouble explaining to Lowenthal Rail industry observers forced market expertise. This will only be California High-Speed Rail Authority why the project was not on the list of shovel- possible, of course, if SNCF experts (Authority) has identified… that can cur- ready projects given to Feinstein. to watch the repeated strategic, engineering and planning blunders are allowed to set design, speed, and rently be commenced.” Morshed claimed that the criteria for the service level parameters. AKA: QUENTIN’S PRIVATE PRESERVE by the High-Speed Rail Authority The list purposefully omitted any list were: 1) the project is part of the $34 bil- have been cheered by the prospect The $8 billion of stimulus funds, funding for the Anaheim station and lion Phase I, 2) the project sponsor would that a restructured project placed some of which is targeted for high- Transbay Terminal extension, which both commit to construction within the stimulus under professional management speed networks, as part of the eco- had completed environmental work based time period and 3) the improvement would might make a fresh start, and elimi- nomic recovery plan, has interested on input from the Authority. have utility even without HSR, but fell far nate tens of billions of dollars of many states in competing for grants. It appears that the list was not an short of convincing the committee that the designed-in waste from the project. Transbay project did not meet the criteria, Midwestern states and New York official finding of the High-Speed Rail In this context, a report in the states plan to do incremental improve- Authority, and at best represented Kopp's or that the Authority had good intentions regarding Transbay. Paris financial paper Les Echoes ments to increase train speed to 110 views and perhaps those of his former that SNCF International is “very or 120 mph, but Loubinoux believed Senate employee Mehdi Morshed, the Morshed raised the prospect that the interested” in US proposals of high- it would be better to invest in a new retired and furloughed, but not yet quite Authority would never finish its line to speed trains is very encouraging. network which would enable dedicat- departed Executive Director of the agency. Transbay. When Lowenthal pressed him SNCF staff has indicated several ed TGV trains to reach 200 mph. New At the March 5 board meeting of the as to why, Morshed said, “We run out of times in the past that the company alignments involving codevelopment Authority in Sacramento, it became clear money, we don't know, you want us to would be interested in doing turn- with highways or utilities, rather than that at least one Rail Authority board mem- assess the risk, it’s a possibility.” key US projects, but following its the constricted and winding exist- ber had obtained a copy of the list and was As Committee questions grew more very unsatisfactory experience with ing rail lines chosen by the California very displeased. After all, sending a letter penetrating, Morshed’s answers became being a subcontractor on Acela, HSRA, are now the typical method recommending particular federal stimulus less and less understandable, particularly would want a key position in the of development of high-speed rail in projects to the California congressional del- when he claimed the Authority would project so that it could ensure that Europe. egation is a matter for the Authority policy need to have a San Francisco terminal funding was not squandered on a Loubindoux indicated flexibility board as a whole, not a freelancing Chair. capable of handling 12 high-speed trains politically-structured project. in the way SNCF could be involved, It got worse. Judge Kopp reacted to an hour instead of the 4 trains an hour Jean-Pierre Loubinoux, Chair of from “technology transfer” or “main- Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle’s allusion to cited by the Authority up to January 29. the overseas sales and management tenance operations” to a franchise bid Kopp's letter by trying to hastily cure the “12 trains an hour is quite a num- unit SNCF International hailed the contract or operation. “In some cases, record. He departed from the board agenda ber,“ Lowenthal told him. “That’s a train recent decision of the United States particularly in high-speed corridors and attempted to conduct an ad hoc vote of every 5 minutes.” He pointed out that to launch a network of high-speed (...) we could consider participating in those board members in attendance regard- no high-speed rail station in the world trains and indicated that the com- some operating systems,” he said. ing a project list never provided to the public except Tokyo’s had 12 trains an hour, pany would be “very interested” in In the past, SNCF has indicated and without any advance notice, a clear and and that most had half-hourly trains at the operation of such a network. it would only seek an operational role egregious violation of the Brown Act. best. “Now you’ve upped the ante. It “We strongly believe that in this in facilities that have dedicated high- The vote would likely have gone ahead leads to a lot of confusion.” country, in some corridors, the sys- speed tracks. The complications of had not attorneys for projects excluded Lowenthal told Morshed that the tem should logically be a source of joint operation with freight and FRA- from the list been observing the charade. apparent attempt by the Authority to profit,” Loubinoux said. compliant commuter trains are not Lynn Suter, who represents San Francisco’s dump Transbay “leads to a lot of angst The French experience in this appealing to European or Japanese Transbay Authority, strode to the podium to among the Legislature. It was part of field shows that the TGV networks companies, which are not impressed speak, only to be studiously ignored by Kopp the ballot initiative, and now it may not are most effective when they con- with American safety technology or and Morshed. be part of the project.” nect major cities 600 to 1000 miles operational expertise. Another audience member walked up to Lowenthal also decried the discrep- apart, said Mr. Loubinoux. Current California high speed rail George Spanos, a Deputy Attorney General ancy between claims of 30 million, 54.6 This logic is quite different from plans are complicated by joint use of representing the Authority who had been sit- million and 100 million annual riders American conventional wisdom, the high-speed rail corridor by heavy, ting in the audience, and asked him to please by the Authority. “We keep hearing which holds that corridor lengths slow-moving freight trains. Prior SNCF enforce the law. Spanos was obviously not these vast numbers that change con- of 200 to 400 miles are optimum advice to California was to limit the very eager to confront Kopp, and raised his stantly.” He suggested to Morshed that for intercity trains, but France’s overlap of joint use to the very mini- voice only after a period of another eight or the HSRA start speaking with one rail experience has demonstrated mum possible, a strategy which con- nine minutes, the second time he dared to voice on key project decisions. that bigger profits come from serv- flicts with the selected San Francisco- approach the dais. Morshed claimed that the Rail ing longer corridors with more city Gilroy and Chowchilla-Los Angeles Requests by audience members for Authority was completely receptive to more pairs. preferred alignments. a copy of the list were not responded to hearings because it needed guidance from France had its only major traf- According to Mr. Loubinoux, SNCF until a week later, but when received, were the Legislature, leading to the Lowenthal fic failure on its shortest TGV Nord International plans to make propos- dated a day after the meeting, indicating riposte “and from a psychologist as well.” line to Lille. Also, much of its suc- als to the Federal Railroad Authority, an edit had occurred. The list now contains Citing a letter from virtually all Bay cessful TGV Atlantique and TGV which is seeking to improve 11 rail besides the items at right, $200 million Area members of the the State Legislature, Southeast traffic is international corridors. According to Les Echoes, for the Anaheim multimodal terminal, but strongly urging support for the Transbay and involves travel to Spain, Italy, Mr. Loubinoux acknowledged that notably not one dime for San Francisco's project, as well as direct communications and Switzerland. Its latest projects SNCF would not be alone in the ranks, Transbay Terminal. from Sen. Feinstein indicating she sees are cooperative international exten- but “we can bring our experience. We There Goes the Judge the project as key to Bay Area transporta- sions to Spain and Germany, in have operated systems for high-speed tion, Lowenthal then invited the Transbay which it hopes to capture 800 to trains for 25 years,” he argued. The next week was apparently very Terminal Authority (TTA) to speak. 1000 mile trips. Loubinoux, noting that “the finan- stressful for Judge Kopp and Morshed, as cial crisis seems to be a catalyst for the Senate Transportation and Housing Maria Ayerdi, TTA Executive Director Mr. Loubinoux pointed out that major national infrastructure,” appears Committee scheduled an informational hear- told the panel that HSRA would have to these longer travel corridor oppor- hopeful that there is a role for France ing on stimulus funding, and wanted to learn go back to voters with a new initiative if tunities exist on the east coast of in providing technical expertise in to what the exact policy of the Authority the project was changed to have a differ- the United States, California, Texas designing such projects, rather than was in regard to funding Transbay. The ent terminal. “We are just following the and Florida. “We could have more just selling vehicles. Committee asked Judge Kopp to attend, but voter mandate.” than a corridor, we could have a he begged off, citing judicial duties. Emilio Cruz, one of the principal engi- network,” he said. “If the possibility Les Echoes also reported that (to use this network) is open, we of Pierre Gauthier, president of the North Assistant HSRA chair Fran Florez was left neering managers of the project disputed course will study with great inter- American subsidiary of Alstom which to deliver a stumbling reading of a speech Morshed’s claim that Transbay would est,” he assured. won a tender last year to design and to the Senators, followed by testimony by have no utility without high-speed rail, build first the first high-speed line Morshed in which he raised more questions citing benefits to 31,000 Caltrain riders This statement can be read as in Latin America on a turnkey basis than he was able to answer. Chairman Alan daily. He also pointed out that HSRA did suggesting that if there is a fran- in Argentina is encouraged about Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) pressed Morshed not inform the TTA of its revised pro- chise role for SNCF International prospects of TGV in the USA. Our on whether “recent comments by the (HSRA) gram needs until January 30, 2009, two that would allow them access to best hope for a successful system is chair have indicated that there is no intention days after Kopp’s letter to Feinstein. use particular publicly owned seg- that European experts, not California to go to Transbay.” He asked Morshed, “Are The attempt to defund Transbay ments, that the company might bureaucrats, will design, build and you saying that it would not be part of the is yet another circumstance that suggests that bring its own investment to the reform of the HSRA board and staff is overdue. table, so that SNCF could maxi- operate the California system. 4 California Rail News February–April 2009 California Rail News February–April 2009 5 3 expeRt Views on RaiL stimuLus it into law. The bill’s primary focus was of the most iconic American cities – San WHICH POTS, WHICH PROjECTS? rail safety, a reaction to the Chatsworth Francisco and Los Angeles – in the state Bob Huddy, TRAC Board Member incident previously reported in CRN. with the most population in the union. If H.R. 1 is the most far-reaching passen- Most significantly for Amtrak, the stat- President Obama wants to showcase high ger rail funding bill the nation has seen. It ute provides for grants of $13 billion for speed rail in America, there’s no better contains the following pots of funding: the nation’s passenger railroad, to be doled place to do it than California. High Speed Rail Corridors & Intercity out over the next five years. This aver- Two factors may hinder California’s Passenger Rail Service- $8 billion age yearly grant of $2.6 billion is double efforts to direct that stimulus money to Funds are appropriated for purposes the amounts appropriated for Amtrak over our state. First is competition from other outlined in both the Capital Assistance the past several years. These previous HSR projects around the country. Most of to States and the High Speed Passenger grants were so small that even doubling these projects involve upgrading exist- Rail program of last year’s historic Amtrak them has merely upgraded Amtrak from a ing tracks to allow passenger trains to reauthorization bill. The Secretary of starvation diet to a “weight-loss” diet. As reach speeds between 110 and 150 miles Transportation has flexibility in allocating Ross B. Capon, President of the National per hour. Those goals are less ambitious resources between programs to advance Association of Railroad Passengers than the California HSR project, with a the goal of deploying intercity high speed (NARP), told CNN: “By and large, the top speed of 220 mph, but are also more rail systems around the country. organization has survived an incredible affordable and therefore more likely to The Capital Assistance to States pro- amount of low funding [for] years.” get funded in the near term. New York gram is likely to receive most funding in According to NARP, Department of State has recently announced plans to this combined package. Draft guidelines Transportation funding for Amtrak this build a third track along the CSX corridor made available by USDOT to date sug- year will be $1.49 billion; only 15% above from Niagara Falls to Albany, capable of gest that that there is a slant towards the $1.3 billion typical of the Bush years. supporting high speed trains. Illinois is Northeast and Midwestern projects, as Of that, $940 million will be spent on capi- seeking $500 million in federal stimulus well as any new corridors, because there tal improvements and debt service, while funds to upgrade the Chicago to St. Louis is no penalty for lack of current traffic. the other $550 million will be used to corridor, and Washington has announced Political jockeying for funding started improve operations. plans to seek up to $700 million to within hours of passage. Press accounts The Stimulus appropriations in the upgrade the Amtrak Cascades corridor have cited such California projects as: recent Economic Recovery legislation con- between Portland and Seattle. Caltrain electrification, the Transbay tain more good news for Amtrak, but not The second factor is the unknown Terminal extension, grade separation on a large scale. Amtrak’s one-time grant effect of ongoing controversy over parts projects to complete the triple tracking will be $1.3 billion; similar to their annual of the California HSR project on the from Redondo to Fullerton on LOSSAN, grant during the Bush years. Of this, $850 state’s ability to make quick use of federal the Union Station run-through, and the UC million will be spent on capital projects. stimulus money. Some residents along the San Diego Mesa tunnel. No more than 60% of this money can be Caltrain corridor have reacted negatively Final determination of likely projects spent in the Northeast Corridor (NEC), but to proposals to build new tracks above will depend on final FRA rules as well as funding has reportedly been requested for grade through their cities. They demand any legislative earmarks. about 80 projects in the Northeast region that the tracks be built underground, and have received support for this posi- Capital Grants To Amtrak-$1.3 billion alone. The other $450 million will be spent to improve security. It is generally agreed tion from some city councils, including Of total funds appropriated, $450 mil- in the Northeast that the tunnel under Palo Alto. Atherton and Menlo Park have lion for capital grants for security improve- Baltimore Harbor is one of the most vul- already filed suit to block the project, ments to include “life safety” improve- claiming the environmental review pro- ments. No more than 60% of remaining nerable points on Amtrak, and one that has a pressing need for a security upgrade. cess was flawed. The suit seeks to reverse funds shall be spent for capital improve- certification of the Pacheco Pass routing. ments on the Northeast Corridor. This At this point, it is too early to count should provide for accelerated deployment any “Stimulus” dollars as real. Recent The Transbay Terminal project is of things like positive train controls, sig- stimulus legislation authorized grants another flashpoint in the debate. CHSRA nal improvements, and improved security. for rail and many other programs, but no staff have begun to question the exist- This gives Amtrak critical capital for a money can be spent until an amount is ing “train box” plan, arguing that it is too laundry list of deferred capital projects. appropriated by Congress. The appropria- small for the long-term needs of the high speed rail system. Current plans call for Transit Capital Grants-$8.4 billion tion process is taking place at this writing, and rail advocates hope that the entire the Transbay Terminal to accommodate The final Stimulus Bill provides $6.9 amounts authorized for rail will actually be four high speed trains per hour. billion for transit formula assistance appropriated and later spent. Mehdi Morshed, former executive through established local transit pro- grams. This use of the formula is based As NARP commented on its web site director of the CHSRA and now a proj- upon agreed on language to avoid ear- (on March 13, 2009): “The lack of operat- ect consultant, believes that the train marks and move “shovel ready” projects ing grants is problematic, in light of the box should be built to accommodate already in through the planning processes fact that many transit agencies are cutting as many as twelve trains per hour. To in adopted plans. service for lack of operating funds, even date the CHSRA has not explained in detail its operational reasons for wanting 80 percent of this pot will be granted as the federal government throws extra money for capital improvements at them.” the expanded train box, a request that via the Federal Transit Administration's has complicated negotiations with the (FTA) urban formula; 10 percent via FTA's NARP did not say so, but they could have meant Amtrak, too. Transbay Joint Powers Authority and San rural formula, and, 10 percent via FTA's Francisco over final details of the project. growing states and high density formula. In addition, the bill devotes 2.5 percent of WInDFALL FUnD STILL In PLAy These ongoing controversies may rural funds to tribal transit needs. Another cause the USDOT to be reluctant to give $100 million goes for capital assistance for Robert Cruickshank, Professor and a significant portion of the HSR stimulus transit greenhouse gas reduction projects. On-Line High Speed Commentator funds to California’s project. Quick but fair The stimulus Bill also calls for $750 mil- High-speed and intercity rail funds resolution of these issues, particularly at lion in fixed guideway modernization funding were approved by Congress after a last- the Transbay Terminal, is essential if the and $750 million in capital investment grants minute request from the White House, as high speed rail project is to receive a rapid that may be used on a discretionary basis for Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel intervened infusion of federal funding. new start or small start transit projects. with negotiators from the House and The state’s ongoing financial crisis Senate to ensure that the $8 billion would also may undermine the high speed rail AmTRAK'S STImULATIOn FUnDS be included in the final bill. project. Because of budgetary standoffs in Sacramento for the past two years, the David Peter Alan, Chair of New California is favorably positioned to capture a significant portion of the funds. CHSRA has not been receiving prom-

Jersey’s Lackawanna Coalition The project approved by voters at the ised funds and will soon be out of cash. Funding increases for Amtrak began November 2008 election is further along in Project engineers and consultants have before the stimulus package, last October, its environmental review process than any gone unpaid for months. The CHSRA was when Congress passed the Rail Safety and other true high speed rail proposal in the expecting to receive a cash infusion by Passenger Rail Investment Act, HR-2095. nation. California is also the only state that selling some of the Proposition 1A bonds It was enacted by veto-proof majorities in currently has a dedicated source of state early this year, but bond sales have been both House and Senate, so then-President revenue in the $9.95 billion Proposition 1A impaired by the state’s deteriorating Bush had effectively no choice but to sign bonds. California’s project connects two financial condition. 6 California Rail News February–April 2009 Knitting L.A. Lines into a Network By Michael E. McGinley, P.E., bridge that will carry the line over the Now it will be extended from the west TRAC Board Member 101 freeway and over to Alameda Street. end at Canoga Park northward to the To get to East LA it uses a transitway in Chatsworth Station (Metrolink, Amtrak, Los Angeles Metro is making progress the center or side median of several urban and Metro buses). While not a rail project, on rail extensions and interconnections streets, plus a 1.9 mile tunnel under bluffs this extension makes the Orange Line that will create a more viable network just east of the Los Angeles River. It is an fully connect to two busy rail corridors, to serve this diverse region. Californians extension of the foothill Gold Line that the Metro Red Line Subway in North can take heart that our transportation now runs from Sierra Madre Villa to Union Hollywood and the Metrolink/Amtrak infrastructure is growing and maturing to Station. Trains will run through Union line linking San Diego, Los Angeles, serve future generations while reducing Station traversing the whole line from Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo. reliance on auto travel and petroleum. East Los Angeles to Pasadena. Service Construction starts later this year. begins this summer. Metro is planning While some of these projects may be Subway Towards The Sea expensive, they provide needed transpor- the second phase to extend this line with tation capacity at a small fraction of the potential terminals in Whittier and South Los Angeles Metro refers to this cost of adding to our freeway El Monte. popular concept as the Westside Service network, and will have much Extension. Early planning smaller land acquisition and is looking at either extend- environmental impacts than ing the Purple Line sub- comparable freeway projects. way westward from the LA Metro Extensions Wilshire/Western terminal Expo (Aqua) Line or building westward from Construction is moving near Hollywood towards briskly on phase one of this Santa Monica. This line is Light Rail Transit (LRT) line. being planned with stations It connects with the Blue wholly underground and as Line (from Los Angeles to such may be very expen- Long Beach) at Flower and sive; planning, design, Washington (about 2 miles and funding for construc- south of Union Station) tion will probably be done and runs south in a street in phases that will take a median to join the old Pacific decade or two to complete. Electric Santa Monica Air What is important for Line right of way along all of these projects is how Exposition Blvd westward they join separate lines into towards Culver City. The a network. Each network first trains will run to Culver connection multiplies the City by 2011. The second possible trip options for stage will follow the old PE every line in the system right of way to Santa Monica. and “leverages” both the Crenshaw (Rose) Line new and old investments in our transportation infra- Planning is under way for structure. Here are the new a line extending south along connections: Crenshaw Blvd from Wilshire Blvd, across the Expo Chatsworth: Orange Line (Aqua) Line to Los Angeles to Metrolink and Amtrak International Airport. This line will use a Foothill Gold Line Union Station: Eastside Gold Line to Red part of the Harbor Subdivision (see below) and Purple Line, Metrolink and Amtrak and street center medians. There is a Metro is finalizing plans to seek funds for construction that will extend Flower/Washington streets: Blue to the strong preference for using LRT instead Expo (Aqua) Line of BRT as it can provide a single seat ride the Foothill Gold Line eastward from Wilshire/Crenshaw: Purple Line (subway) from LAX to downtown or Norwalk. BRT Sierra Madre Villa in stages to Azusa and to Crenshaw (Rose) Line would require forced transfers to the Expo later to Claremont, following the former (Aqua) or Green Lines Santa Fe Pasadena Subdivision right of Exposition/Crenshaw: Expo (Aqua) Line way. In concert with this planning, the to Crenshaw (Rose) Line San Bernardino Associated Governments Harbor Subdivision Crenshaw Blvd (Hyde Park): Crenshaw (SANBAG) is studying extensions fur- Metro owns the former Santa Fe line (Rose) Line to Harbor Subdivision ther eastward that could connect it with from Los Angeles to Wilmington, pass- Montclair, Upland, and the Ontario air- Slauson/Long Beach Blvd: Blue Line to ing by Los Angeles International Airport. port. These SANBAG routes may follow Harbor Subdivison Service concepts being studied include Metrolink or a former PE line (now a rec using parts of the corridor to bring the Little Tokyo: Eastside Gold Line to Red, trail) rights of way, or may follow portions Crenshaw Line south to the airport, link- Purple, Blue and Aqua via the Downtown of flood control channel or urban streets. ing the Green Line to the Crenshaw Line Regional Connector and the airport. Community meetings Downtown Regional Connector Long Beach: (Potential) Blue Line to have identified a strong desire to use the Harbor Subdivision With the expansion of commuter and Harbor Subdivision to extend service even LAX Airport: Harbor Subdivision, Green further south, to San Pedro and Long transit lines into downtown, the subway and Long Beach lines are becoming satu- Line, and Crenshaw (Rose) Line and Beach. This would provide a valuable Airport Peoplemover route parallel to the severely overcrowded rated. To improve the “last mile” travel experience of riders on several lines, a Claremont: Foothill Gold Line San Gabriel I-405 freeway from the harbor communi- Extension to Metrolink ties to the airport and many destinations new link (probably a subway) is being in the southwest and west side of Los planned between the 7th and Flower St Montclair: Foothill Gold Line Ontario Angeles County. The north end of the station (Red, Purple and Blue lines plus Airport line to Metrolink Harbor Subdivision is being analyzed new Expo line) northwards through the for how best to connect the airport and financial and Bunker Hill districts then Rapid Bus Lines southwest communities to downtown. east to connect to the Eastside Gold line Metro is continuing to expand their in Little Tokyo, about 2 miles. Rapid Bus lines. These are surface street Eastside Gold Line bus lines that run further between stops, Canoga Transportation Corridor Construction is nearly complete and often take priority for traffic signals, and systems testing is underway for the first The “Orange Line” bus rapid transit offer very frequent service, generally a phase of this line from Union Station east- line that follows parts of the old Southern large improvement over local buses. They ward about 6 miles. For many months Pacific Burbank Branch right of way connect with many Metro transit lines and travelers at Union Station have been across the south side of the San Fernando Metrolink/Amtrak stations, furthering the watching the construction of a signature Valley has exceeded ridership projections. network of services.

California Rail News February–April 2009 7 How Late is on-time? Dear Bob ability in the schedule along the route. component to maintaining a reasonably I’d like to know what the definition This is almost exclusively a long-distance reliable schedule. Non-professionals some- of on-time performance is. How much off train issue. It has a long history of proven times criticize this, but after more than 40 the advertised qualifies as being not on necessity. years in the business, I have learned to time, one minute, five minutes, an hour? On the Capitol Corridor, there are a appreciate the talent of train schedulers. Is this figured at every stop or only end few places where you will find a slightly It is an art, not just a science. Airlines, as terminals? Is there a different definition longer schedule on selected trains, such congestion at major airports grew, encoun- for on time for corridor trains vs. long dis- as train #542. The running time between tered similar circumstances, and schedule tance trains? Oakland-Jack London and Emeryville is 8 planes much the same way. Thanks, Gordon Osmundson minutes normally, with 2 minutes allowed Of course, they don’t have grade-cross- for boarding and detraining. However, ings, freight trains and single tracking to Dear Gene, since train #542 comes up from San Jose contend with, but they do need to contend Can you or someone on your staff mostly on single track, and has ‘a meet’ in with wind velocity, weather, and ‘fitting answer this man’s question? I can’t and the opposite direction with #543, and has into’ a controlled landing pattern, often would be curious to read the answer. You to intermix with an ACE train, (making resulting in a fairly long ‘pad’ depending can “Reply to All” and I will get it, too. for the possibility that something can ‘go upon the time of day, and the particular Bob Reynolds wrong’ at multiple locations) you will see airport. TRAC Volunteer and Board Secretary 15 minutes scheduled between Oakland The longer the distance of the train and Emeryville, to allow for some delay, run, and the more single track and pass- Dear Bob, instead of the normal 10 minutes. The ing sidings involved, the greater the level The amount of ‘recovery time’ allowed important thing for rail riders is to have of recovery time built into the schedule. each train does vary by the particular ser- the train depart as reliably as possible The reality is that there are just more plac- vice. The recovery time is less for corridor at its maximum load point, and that is es where things can go wrong and cause services like the Capitol Corridor (within Emeryville Station for train #542, and for delays. Each existing train usually has a a 10 minute tolerance from the published the train to arrive at its destination on (or long history of incidents and delays (not ‘scheduled arrival time’ at the last station before) its scheduled arrival time. On the intentional delays by dispatchers) that a on a ‘run’) to much more liberal ‘recovery Capitol Corridor, the recorded on-time tol- scheduler reviews and is familiar with. If times’ for long distance trains, which may erance at the end-point station is 10 min- there were just one train on a single track, actually have several points with recovery utes for all trains, measured at the final making a non-stop trip, this recovery time times built into their arrivals at interme- station stop (terminus) of a particular run. could be minimized or eliminated, but diate points en route. You would need It can be substantially longer for long dis- that’s not the real world that we live in. tance trains. to consult with Amtrak for the specifics, Maybe someday, with a TGV-type but I believe the Zephyr, for example, has You will need to check with Amtrak dedicated passenger rail system, and no ‘recovery time’ in its schedule at Denver and/or Caltrans on the Surfliners and grade-crossings, the need for these recov- and Salt Lake City (and perhaps at Reno, the San Joaquins. The Surfliners may ery times can be minimized, as they are but I am not sure). The same is true for have different arrival tolerances and in Europe. However, I know of no where the Empire Builder, the Southwest Chief recovery time depending if the train is on the planet, even in relatively short, con- and the Sunset. This recovery time is operating solely between San Diego and ventional railroad commuter operations, allowing for “something” to go wrong en Los Angeles or if it continues to Santa where endpoint recovery time is eliminat- route (but not for a catastrophic event like Barbara, Goleta or San Luis Obispo. ed all together. This is the standard pro- a mudslide or freight derailment), such as There is also almost always an addi- cedure used by railroad schedulers across ‘slow orders’ where trackwork is on-going, tional 5-10 minutes or so built into the the planet. a drawbridge lift, or where there is a late running time between the last two sta- So that’s a long answer to a short train in one direction on single track, that tions on a run, to allow for other disrup- question. delays trains in the other direction, requir- tions en route. Any train scheduler will Gene ing a ‘meet’ at a passing siding. tell you that in building a timetable for Eugene K. Skoropowski passenger trains that operate in mixed Amtrak and the freight railroads are Managing Director sometimes criticized for ‘too much slop’ traffic, particularly when there is single in the schedule, but the truth is that track involved as we have on the Capitol Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority the ‘slop’ is needed on many occasions Corridor between San Jose and Oakland, 300 Lakeside Drive, 14th floor to maintain a reasonable degree of reli- these ‘pads’ if you will, are an essential Oakland, California 94612 09CalRail2020 in Ventura Plans are shaping up for the annual CalRail2020 rail advocacy conference this fall on November 6, 7, & 8. Join us as we bring CalRail 2020 to the Ventura area for the first time in a decade. The 2009 conference will include a range of exciting speakers discussing California passenger rail issues with a focus on Southern California transit. We will also look at the first year of progress on California’s Prop. 1A, iden- tifying which commuter and intercity projects from the $950 million pot are proceeding and which high speed rail initiatives from the $9 billion pot have found federal or private matches, as well as other ongoing progress on improving passenger rail service throughout the western states. For 2009, the conference’s popular Our trip will hopefully include “rare mile- An excursion on Fillmore & Western Sunday excursion is planned for the age” and opportunity for rail advocates, cars using the Santa Paula branch is Fillmore and Western Railroad with a rail fans, and families to enjoy a great planned for Sunday November 8. look at the historic Santa Paula line and day of historic Southern California rail- Ventura County envisions future its potential for future regional service. roading. commuter service on the route.

8 California Rail News February–April 2009