Caltrain Unveils the Baby Bullet Locomotive
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BayRail Alliance Formerly Peninsula Rail 2000 http://www.bayrailalliance.org No. 2003-2 May 2003 In This Issue: Caltrain to change fare structure, Caltrain unveils the Baby procedure ..... page 2 From the editor’s desk ..... page 2 Bullet locomotive Capitol Corridor continues to impress ..... page 4 Safe Routes to Transit ..... page 6 The red and gray VTA plans 21% Caltrain Baby Bullet locomotive #923 parks at the transit cut Burlingame station for the dedication In November 2002, VTA (Santa Clara ceremony County's bus and light rail system) revealed (Photo: Margaret to the public its grave financial situation. Okuzumi) VTA then formed an ad-hoc advisory committee to examine its options to avoid By Bruce Shelton to keep the concept alive in the minds of the bankruptcy. The committee consisted of On Friday, April 4th, the commuter rail public and provide photo ops for continuing several VTA board members, and community was introduced to the new kid promotion. As BayRail Alliance members representatives from business, labor, and on the block. At an early afternoon ceremony know, our local Baby Bullets are not to be other groups. It hired three consultants who at the Burlingame train station, Caltrain's new confused with the Shinkansen of the drafted recommendations. The committee "Baby Bullet" was formally dedicated and, Japanese National Railways. Indeed, speeds met weekly to review the recommendations. as befits any christening, was launched with will not be significantly faster than the One of the consultants recommended a bottle of champagne. present commute fleet, currently averaging measures for increasing the farebox recovery Although the Baby Bullet service will 45-70 mph with a top speed of 75 mph in the rate from the current 10% to about 20% by not commence operations until early 2004, Sunnyvale area. However, these express increasing fares. In April the VTA board the ceremony gave the JPB the opportunity [See Baby Bullet, page 3] proposed a new fare increase. Monthly passes for seniors and the disabled would increase by over 80% under this latest proposal. Perata proposes bridge toll Even with a series of fare increases, VTA would face a huge deficit. VTA reduced increase for transit its deficit in 2002 by obtaining one-time State Senator Don Perata (D-Alameda/ August. In a letter to the advisory committee revenues, including sales of land. Despite Oakland) recently introduced SB 916, a bill convened by Senator Perata, BayRail its recent announcement of a 21% transit to increase bridge tolls to $3. The extra dollar supported using all of the new toll revenue service cut in October, VTA is facing a long- to be charged on seven Caltrans-operated on transit and related projects, with the term deficit of $60 million per year. Financial toll bridges (excluding the Golden Gate) Caltrain DTX/Transbay Terminal, consultants to VTA warned of a possible would provide much needed funding, $125 Dumbarton rail, and new express bus service 25% service cut next year, even while VTA million per year, for the Caltrain extension to as high priorities. BayRail also endorsed the still plans to open new light rail extensions downtown San Francisco (DTX), Dumbarton recommendation that funding allocations be to East San Jose and Campbell. rail, and a wide range of other transit based on 1) the potential for projects to The ad-hoc committee reviewed improvements. The list of projects specified attract the most new transit riders in each options to raise revenue through new fees by SB 916 strongly favors cost effective bridge corridor, and 2) present levels of or taxes, including sales and payroll taxes. transit -- a victory for transit advocates. traffic and tolls collected at each Bay One of the consultants estimated a 1% This milestone for transit advocacy crossing. payroll tax would generate about $600 million largely lives up to principles articulated by Perata's advisory committee on the toll [See VTA, page 5] the BayRail Alliance board of directors last [See Perata, page 3] Page 2 May 2003 Caltrain To Change Fare Structure, Procedures At the Caltrain Joint Powers Board some passengers, the fares will go down by BART, which uses a station-to-station meeting on April 3, the board unanimously as much as 30%, while the fares for some scheme but calculates its fares based on a approved a new fare policy for Caltrain, others will go up by about 30%. For riders complex formula with many discounts and effective in September. The new policy will between Gilroy and Tamien, fares will go up. surcharges. implement the Proof-of-Payment (POP) These changes are intended to maintain the "We met with the Caltrain staff, who system as well as adjust fares for all same average fare under the new zone cited difficulties in administering the station- passengers. POP, which uses random structure. to-station fares. We responded with concrete inspections and fines assessed to fare BayRail Alliance devoted its March proposals from our members on how to evaders, already is standard procedure on membership meeting to this issue. Many in reprogram ticket vending machines (TVMs) light rail systems. Because it requires much attendance expressed concerns over the to make station-to-station tickets easy to less labor, BayRail Alliance has supported changes in the zone structure. Most buy, as well as how to implement the this change for many years. attendees favored a distance-based, station- distance-based fare scheme immediately for Caltrain staff, citing fare inequities, to-station fare structure. This scheme bases station agents," said Tseng. crafted the new policy. In addition to the underlying fare calculation on exact As a part of the action to adopt the implementing POP, the policy reduces the distance between any two stations. Under new fare policy in April, the Caltrain JPB also number of fare zones from nine to six. "The Caltrain's new fare zones, as well as under approved the goal of implementing a station- reduction of zones seems to us as a step the existing arrangement, passengers riding to-station fare scheme in the future. BayRail backwards in making the fare scheme more short distances across zone boundaries are plans to work cooperatively with Caltrain staff equitable for passengers," said John Tseng, charged significantly more than passengers to resolve the issues in the implementation of president of BayRail. riding long distances within a zone. The the latter. This will require continued Besides having fewer zones, the new new zone arrangement exaggerates this monitoring and perseverance to ensure that scheme will increase the base fare and the penalty. The fare structure preferred by the Caltrain follows through on adopting a more increment for crossing a zone boundary. For meeting attendees is somewhat similar to equitable and user-friendly system. San Mateo County transportation sales ByFrom Andy Chow the Editor’s Desk tax SFO AirTrain The second shortcoming is the lack of San Mateo County plans to place on The AirTrain at SFO Airport is the connection with Caltrain. Just west of the next year's ballot a renewal of its 20-year half- newest rail system in the Bay Area. Its terminals, the AirTrain line passes as close cent sales tax for transportation projects. automated trains serve the airport terminals, as 1/4 mile to the Caltrain line across the Recently a new committee was formed to plan rental car center, and the BART station which freeway. Passengers transferring between and advocate for the renewal measure. The will open on June 22. AirTrain and Caltrain must take a one-station committee consisted of members of various AirTrain, which charges no fare, was ride on BART to make the connection at segments of the community, as well as Jerry intended to replace the shuttle buses Millbrae, which requires the purchase of a Hill and Mike Nevin of the San Mateo County between the terminals and the satellite $1.50 BART ticket. No special fare Board of Supervisors. The committee hired locations, and to encourage airport workers arrangement is currently planned for making a consultant and plans to conduct a poll of and travelers to take public transit to SFO. this connection. (BayRail Alliance, under its San Mateo County voters on what However, the system has certain former name Peninsula Rail 2000, campaigned transportation projects they would vote for. deficiencies. unsuccessfully with other groups during the The upcoming measure also once First, the AirTrain stations at domestic 1990s for a direct connection between again raises the Caltrain vs. BART question. terminals are located across the roadway from AirTrain and Caltrain.) Although BART could win the popularity the front of the terminals. To access stations While the idea that passengers can get contest, it fails miserably in the fiscal reality from the terminal buildings, passengers may to SFO via rail has obvious appeal, it will contest. Due to the BART extension from have to change levels three times: first from require multiple level changes and additional Fremont to San Jose, we are already seeing a the main terminal to the pedestrian walkway waiting for connections and to buy tickets. huge financial crisis in Santa Clara County (overhead or underground), then after The current SFO-Caltrain shuttle bus is free, at VTA. Given the smaller tax base in San crossing the roadway to the parking garage, serves all terminals, and does not require as Mateo County, BART could be extended at another level change from the walkway to the many level changes to reach one's best a few miles even if half or all of the new concourse of the AirTrain station, and finally destination. tax measure were devoted to it. Caltrain, on from the concourse to the platform.