Fall 2011 Fall ConnectionInformation for Customers Train Operator to Change Safety is Main After nearly 20 years of operat- total of five additional years, Focus Every Day ing and maintaining the Caltrain ser- covers the daily staffing and opera- Caltrain works year-round to vice for the Peninsula Corridor Joint tions of trains, as well as inspec- improve safety on the railroad by Powers Board, will be hand- tion and maintenance of tracks, the focusing on the “three E’s of railroad ing over the keys to TransitAmerica passenger rail vehicle fleet, rights of safety” – education, enforcement Service, Inc. The change, approved way, structures, the signaling and and engineering. by the Caltrain Board in September, communication network, stations, As an active member of Opera- will take place in March 2012. and other facilities. tion Lifesaver, Caltrain offers a free While the company is changing, The new contractor is busy with education program for community the service continues as it is today, mobilization and transition activi- organizations, schools and business- and you will continue to see many ties. During this time, Caltrain and es on the Peninsula. To schedule a of the same employees. The current Amtrak will remain in a partnership, presentation, call 650.508.7927. employees working on the Caltrain and Amtrak will continue to operate Just as education is a key system will benefit from federal the railroad as it participates in the component of Caltrain’s rail safety labor protection. transition. program so is enforcement. The contract award comes after TransitAmerica is a subsidiary of The Transit Police bureau, a a competitive procurement process Herzog Transit Services and current- dedicated unit of the San Mateo that took nearly one-and-a-half ly operates the Altamont Commuter County Sheriff’s Office, is respon- years. TransitAmerica’s proposal Express (San Jose to Stockton), sible for policing Caltrain property, scored the highest from the five Coaster ( County), Trinity including stations, parking lots and received. The new five-year contract, Railway Express (Dallas) and Rail- the railroad right of way. with a potential for options up to a runner (Albuquerque). continued on page 5 Transit Toy Drive Heads to Hometown Holidays Help put a smile on a child’s Corps Reserve’s Toys for face this holiday season by joining Tots program. the San Mateo County Transit Families and individuals District for a Transit Toy Drive who visit the booth will have collection at the annual Redwood a chance to mingle with City Hometown Holidays Festival Rudolph the Red-nosed & Fireworks Show. Reindeer and Frosty the The Transit District, which is Snowman, and have their the administrative body for Caltrain pictures taken with them. and SamTrans, will host a booth at There will be festive the festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. activities and entertainment Saturday, Dec. 3. at the booth, and members Everyone is welcome and of the Salvation Army and encouraged to bring a new, Marines will be on hand to unwrapped toy or book for the accept donations and hand Marine Corps reservists will be on hand to Salvation Army and the U.S. Marine out goodies. accept donations for the Salvation Army and continued on page 3 the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program.

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holiday needs. needs. holiday

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your in included be Discover Neiman Marcus, Blooming- Marcus, Neiman Discover coming holiday season. However, Transit District officials officials District Transit However, season. holiday coming

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Redwood City station City Redwood

Stanford Shopping Center Shopping Stanford Keep in mind that other other that mind in Keep a. San Carlos. San shops and glittering sites. Celebrate Celebrate sites. glittering and shops

Downtown Redwood City Redwood Downtown

, you should: you , train the of its headquarters at 1250 San Carlos Ave. in in Ave. Carlos San 1250 at headquarters its of the Bay with its fine dining, trendy trendy dining, fine its with Bay the

diverse restaurants. diverse

Caltrain/SamTrans Transit Toy Drive Toy Transit Caltrain/SamTrans

board on converse or phone cell your use must you If 5. and hot chocolate in the front lobby area area lobby front the in chocolate hot and You’ll leave your heart in The City by by City The in heart your leave You’ll

home to many outstanding and and outstanding many to home Hometown Holidays & Holidays Hometown

4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28, with cookies cookies with 28, Nov. Monday, p.m. 4 station Francisco San

variety of retail businesses and is is and businesses retail of variety Dec. 3 Dec.

afternoon toy drop-off from 2 p.m. to to p.m. 2 from drop-off toy afternoon San Francisco San

shopping district that offers a wide wide a offers that district shopping

Transit District will host a special special a host will District Transit

Holiday Events Holiday

FALSE or TRUE

campus, is the 6-block wide historic historic wide 6-block the is campus,

Avenue and Broadway. and Avenue event, the the event, Holidays Hometown

Just a few blocks from the Stanford Stanford the from blocks few a Just

and boutiques along Burlingame Burlingame along boutiques and you in frustration in you . .

In addition to the toy drive at the the at drive toy the to addition In www.foxrwc.com

California Avenue station Avenue

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causing people to stare at at stare to people causing

Salvation Army. Salvation City Redwood

California Avenue Shopping District Shopping Avenue California

Burlingame or Broadway stations Broadway or Burlingame

throughout the entire car car entire the throughout sentatives from the Marines and and Marines the from sentatives Downtown Redwood City Redwood Downtown

Downtown Burlingame Downtown

usually can be heard heard be can usually characters, SamTrans mini- and repre- and mini-bus SamTrans characters,

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& Evelyn avenues Evelyn &

4. Personal stereo headsets turned up too LOUD LOUD too up turned headsets stereo Personal 4.

that will feature the costumed costumed the feature will that Parade Holidays Hometown

Peninsula Ballet at Ballet Peninsula

& restaurants along Washington Washington along restaurants &

boutiques and places to dine. to places and boutiques

Caltrain and SamTrans also will be participating in the the in participating be will also SamTrans and Caltrain

Dec. 10 & 11; Dec. 17 & 18 & 17 Dec. 11; & 10 Dec.

Macy’s & Target, boutique shops shops boutique Target, & Macy’s You’ll find a variety of charming charming of variety a find You’ll

. do you than

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San Mateo station Mateo San

(continued from page one) page from (continued www.sjdt.org www.sjdt.org

wear what’s on the bottom of your shoes, anymore anymore shoes, your of bottom the on what’s wear

Downtown Sunnyvale Sunnyvale Downtown

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Lincoln Ave. Lincoln plus 120 specialty stores and and stores specialty 120 plus

San Jose Center for the the for Center Jose San

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get off at El Camino Real and and Real Camino El at off get Visit Nordstrom, Macy’s and Sears, Sears, and Macy’s Nordstrom, Visit

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Downtown Mountain View Mountain Downtown

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Dec. 2 - 4 - 2 Dec. your belongings and kindly offer offer kindly and belongings your

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500 Castro St. Castro 500

hassles of parking and traffic. and parking of hassles

empty seat next to you and refuse refuse and you to next seat empty

one of the excellent restaurants for a a for restaurants excellent the of one

Dec. 2 Dec.

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the holiday season and avoid the the avoid and season holiday the the on belongings your Put a.

Laurel Street for a coffee or choose choose or coffee a for Street Laurel

for the Performing Arts Performing the for

listed here is a great way to kick off off kick to way great a is here listed

should: www.sjrep.com Give yourself a rest and stroll down down stroll and rest a yourself Give

The Mountain View Center Center View Mountain The

Taking Caltrain to the destinations destinations the to Caltrain Taking

looking for a place to sit, you you sit, to place a for looking

One block west along Paseo along west block One Carlos San

Western Ballet Company at Company Ballet Western

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Dec. 2 - 4 - 2 Dec.

celebrations. celebrations.

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stop by. stop for the Performing Arts Performing the for Diridon Jose San trash receptacle on the train or at the station the at or train the on receptacle trash .

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to else someone for it leave Just

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Nov. 25 - 27 - 25 Nov. Nov. 23 to Dec. 24 Dec. to 23 Nov. Snap your fingers at another passenger to clear clear to passenger another at fingers your Snap a.

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1. If you eat or drink on the train, you should: you train, the on drink or eat you If 1.

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Etiquette Quiz Etiquette

Fast Facts Pardon Our Dust – Caltrain Gets Hockey Fans a EVENTS CALENDAR Construction Projects Moving Forward Fall Track the Fun Available Take Caltrain to these special A number of construction projects Capitol Corridor trains will stop at Slap Shot Away from the Ice Looking for fun destinations and events. The station name and are near completion. Construction at the station. Score a goal by taking community events to go to without any additional transit service San Jose Diridon and Santa Clara The San Bruno station was moved Caltrain to Sharks home the expense of gas needed are listed below each stations is currently about just south of the current station in late games at HP Pavilion. and parking? event. 90 percent complete. October. The move was necessary to With its San Jose termi- The work at the San Jose construct the grade separation that will nal located across the street The fall issue of Nov. 18 Diridon station includes four new elevate the Caltrain tracks over from the pavilion, Caltrain the Caltrain Journey Unauthorized tracks along two 1,200-foot-long San Bruno, San Mateo and Angus service makes it easy to Track the Fun Club Fox center-boarding platforms with avenues. Construction on the future avoid the hassle and ex- will give you www.clubfoxrwc.com amenities, signage, lighting and permanent station and the elevated pense of driving and parking. options, includ- Redwood City station public communication systems. The structure will begin at the end of the A number of trains arrive ing information rail signal systems have been switched year and is expected to be from San Francisco and the on how to get to the new and upgraded signal completed by the end of 2012. Peninsula in time for face- Nov. 18 – 20 there using International Motorcycle Show houses. The pedestrian underpass to The $147 million San Bruno Grade off. The last weekday and Caltrain and San Mateo County Expo Center the new platform ramps and stairs will Separation Project will improve safety Saturday northbound connecting The Sharks are bound for glory. Get onboard Caltrain www.motorcycleshows.com be opened in early 2012. for both motorists and pedestrians and train departs the San Jose to other for another season of great action and great crowds! Hillsdale station At the Santa Clara station, con- reduce traffic congestion to and from station at 10:30 p.m. or may transit options. struction includes a 700-foot-long Highway 101 in San Bruno. hold for up to 15 minutes. The train purchasing a Day Pass. Customers center-boarding platform along with In addition to the new station, makes all regular local stops. also can use Clipper. Nov. 20 Track the Fun lists a variety amenities, signage, lighting and public there will be a parking lot with 201 Caltrain is a Proof-of-Payment Open alcoholic beverage Trans-Siberian Orchestra of attractions and events, such communication systems. The struc- spaces and a “kiss and ride” lot. The system and requires passengers to containers are not allowed onboard HP Pavilion as concerts, sports, museums, tural work at the pedestrian underpass project includes three pedestrian purchase tickets before boarding. trains starting at 9 p.m. on game www.hppsj.com holiday events and farmers’ that connects the new center plat- underpasses - one in the vicinity of Save time and avoid long lines by nights. San Jose Diridon station 4 markets. form and the station plaza is being Sylvan Avenue, one at the new station 5 • • • landscaped. The new center platform and another between Euclid Avenue thru Dec. 18 serves northbound passengers while and Walnut Street. Additionally, Safety is Main Focus Every Day Cirque Du Soleil - Totem Mobile Device Schedule Apps the existing platform will continue to elevators will provide easy access for (continued from page one) AT&T Park serve southbound passengers. Eventu- Caltrain customers. Streets and www.cirquedusoleil.com Your commute got even more Transit Police deputies also have fencing plan was developed and ranked ally, Altamont Commuter Express and sidewalks, including those at San Francisco station convenient thanks to software Posy Park, also will be improved. received Crisis Intervention Training, according to urgency. Since then, developers who have created which educates deputies to recog- nearly 60,000 linear feet of fencing at mobile apps for the Caltrain nize people who may be a threat to a cost of $4 million has been installed Dec. 31 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl schedules. Get schedules, fares themselves or others in the vicinity of along the Caltrain right of way. AT&T Park and more while you’re on the Caltrain’s railroad. As a result of this A multi-million dollar project, www.kraftbowl.org go with your mobile device. Go to training, 13 people have been removed which will be completed this year, will San Francisco station www.caltrain.com/mobile for your from the right of way and referred to eliminate the narrow center-boarding mobile app options. treatment this year. platform at the Santa Clara station Anyone who needs to report an (see story on page 4). A new pedes- Jan. 13 – 15 Cirque Du Soleil – Are you a developer who would incident or suspicious activity along trian underpass will connect the north- Michael Jackson The Immortal like to create a Caltrain timetable the Caltrain rail line can call the Transit and southbound platforms, which will HP Pavilion app? Click on our mobile device Police at 1.877.723.7245. improve safety for pedestrians at the www.hppsj.com schedules page for more Caltrain’s commitment to improv- station. San Jose Diridon station information. ing safety on the railroad includes The $147 million San Bruno investing millions of dollars in engi- Grade Separation Project will elevate Caltrain does not sell or license neering projects. the Caltrain tracks above three Jan. 18 - Feb. 12 these applications. Caltrain does In 2006, Caltrain began a multi- existing at-grade street crossings at The Pitman Painters appreciate the efforts of these year project to fence the entire right San Bruno, San Mateo and Angus Mountain View Center for developers who have taken the of way. Before beginning the project, avenues. Peforming Arts initative to create these apps on Caltrain obtained feedback from cities With education, enforcement and www.mvcpa.com their own time and at their ex- about proposed areas for fencing. The engineering working together, Mountain View station pense. The mobile apps are The San Bruno station was moved to its new temporary location to construct the list was reviewed and evaluated by Caltrain will continue to offer safe, offered free to the public. grade separation that will elevate the Caltrain tracks over San Bruno, San Mateo Caltrain engineering staff, and a reliable transportation. and Angus avenues. • • • Ride Caltrain Caltrain Adjusts Holiday Schedules to Turkey Trot! Caltrain will operate a Celebrate New Year’s Eve Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving early by taking the train to the Want a bit of exercise before Day, Thursday, Nov. 24. Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at enjoying the tasty treats of Thanks- On the day after Thanksgiving, AT&T Park in San Francisco. A giving Day? Ride a special limited- Friday, Nov. 25, Caltrain will run post-game train will depart stop Caltrain to the annual 5K/10K a Saturday schedule with 36 15 minutes after the game and Turkey Trot run/ trains, which includes four Baby express to San Carlos. walk in Down- town San Jose. Bullets, operating between To accommodate homeward This Thanks- San Francisco and San Jose. bound post-party travellers, extra giving Day tra- On Christmas Day, Dec. 25, trains will depart San Francisco dition will bring and New Year’s Day, Caltrain will at 12:45 a.m., 1:15 a.m., out thousands operate a Sunday schedule and on 1:45 a.m. and 2:15 a.m. of runners and Dec. 26 and Jan. 2 will operate Service will be free from walkers with a Saturday service. 11 p.m. until 3:30 a.m. variety of fun competitions and activities for everyone. The Nov. 24 SamTrans to Present New Bus race starts at 7:50 a.m. The Scenerios; May Affect Caltrain Riders special early- morning The SamTrans Service Plan, an These proposals may affect Caltrain will in-depth study of the bus system, SamTrans riders who use Caltrain. leave San Francisco at 6:07 a.m., will present three possible service SamTrans will hold six public 6 serve a limited number of stations, scenarios looking at the choices and workshops to unveil the scenarios arriving in San Jose at 7:15 a.m. tradeoffs between increasing ser- and receive public feedback. Group sales of 25 or more are vices on some SamTrans bus routes For all project information, available for this special train. and modifying and reducing service please visit the project website at Visit www.caltrain.com/groupsales. on other routes. www.samtrans.com/ssp.

Caltrain Connection is produced by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board. Comments, questions, contributions and suggestions should be directed to: Mary Knuckles, editor [email protected] Caltrain Connection 1250 San Carlos Ave. P.O. Box 3006 San Carlos, CA 94070-1306

Caltrain Board of Directors Sean Elsbernd, chair Adrienne Tissier, vice chair José Cisneros Jerry Deal Ash Kalra Liz Kniss Arthur L. Lloyd Tom Nolan Ken Yeager

Michael J. Scanlon Executive Director

1.800.660.4287 www.caltrain.com