Fall 2014 Fall

ConnectionInformation for Customers Board Approves Purchase of Additional Rail Cars to Ease Commute Crowding Recent tweet: "#SB376 de- parted SF standing room only & at capacity for bikes." It's the best of times and the worst of times for Caltrain and its customers. Peak commute ridership is up and many Bay Area commuters are choosing Caltrain as their preferred choice for getting to work. Unfortunately, the un- precedented increase in ridership has customers experiencing 1 standing room only conditions during peak hours. Relief is on the way. Caltrain announced plans to purchase 16 surplus Metrolink rail cars that will be used to extend train sets and provide more capacity. The additional cars are intended to relief on peak-hour morning and beyond their seated capacity. provide short-term capacity evening trains that are packed Weekday ridership on the system that runs from Gilroy to San Francisco has more than Caltrain Launches Suicide doubled over the last 10 years to nearly 60,000 people. Prevention Web Page The Bombardier bi-level rail cars will be purchased from This year, the commuter as a result of suicide. Although Southern Regional Rail railroad is focusing efforts to suicide by Caltrain makes up Authority, which operates the address death by a suicide, a 3 percent of suicides in the Metrolink service. The cars are complex community health issue. Peninsula region, they are the similar to the Bombardier cars Nearly 40,000 suicides were focus of public attention because Caltrain uses. Caltrain officials reported throughout the United they impact so many people. estimate the cars, which will States in 2011, making suicide To provide another resource require substantial rehabilitation, the 10th leading cause of death to the community, Caltrain could be in service in a year. for Americans. launched a new page on its Caltrain's newer Bombardier For the past 20 years there website dedicated to suicide- equipment and Gallery trains have been an average of 13 prevention. The page features a are currently configured with five deaths a year on the Caltrain crisis hotline number and tracks; the majority of these were continued on page 3 continued on page 5 Rail Safety Month suicide, whether we ride the train continued from page 1 or have a friend or family highlight local resources for member who may be struggling people. A list of guidelines with mental health issues. By developed by mental health posting this information on our professionals for the media website we are creating another outlining the most effective way opportunity to have an honest to cover suicide also is available. dialog about this very painful In addition, Caltrain put up a poster subject and to let people know San Mateo Bridges at the stations. that there is hope and help." "Preventing suicide requires Over the years, Caltrain has a broad community approach," worked to address the issue of Project Begins this Fall said Stephen Kaplan, Director death by suicide in a variety of of San Mateo County Behavioral ways. In 2001, signs were The long-awaited San Mateo the region's future transportation During the construction Health and Recovery Services. "We posted along the 50-mile rail Bridges Replacement Project is needs, including new electrified rail period, work will take place during highly value our partnership with corridor with a telephone set to begin construction in service, and improved traffic flow the week and will require both number to a crisis prevention early November and will last for on city streets. night and weekend work. It will Caltrain and applaud their efforts Caltrain is an active community partner in center and the message that approximately two years. The four bridges will be be necessary to close each of the to educate their riders and make the prevention of deaths by suicide. help is available. In 2010, the Caltrain, in cooperation with replaced with single-span four streets for approximately eight help and crisis line information signs were redesigned as part the city of San Mateo, is prepar- structures to comply with current weeks during the construction of highly visible." For a list of resources that offer assistance, visit www.caltrain.com/ThereIsHelp of a national study to assess ing to replace four rail bridges federal and state seismic safety the new bridge to ensure the safety Caltrain's website received in San Mateo's North Central standards. The construction of of pedestrians and neighbors in more than 7 million visits last year. their effectiveness. In 2012, neighborhood. The 100-year-old the single-span bridges, combined the area, and facilitate bridge "We hope that this message will said Executive Officer of Public all the signs, which had begun to bridges, located at Tilton, Monte with updated vehicle clearance construction. Road closures are reach a new audience that might Affairs Mark Simon. "All of us are fade, were replaced. Diablo, Santa Inez and Poplar regulations, requires a more robust not expected to take place until not be aware of these resources," touched in one way or another by 2 avenues, do not meet current design that raises the height of the late 2015 into 2016. Updates on 3 3 seismic safety standards. tracks. The new height of the bridg- the project are available at The $38 million project will es will require the construction of www.caltrain.com/SMBridges. ensure that the aging bridges both a retaining wall and fence to are safe and equipped to meet support the raised berm. Busy Summer for CalMod New Youth The Caltrain Modernization team was busy this understand the availability of "off-the-shelf" EMUs summer. The Advanced Signal System project, also that can be best utilized for electrified Caltrain Category called Communications Based Overlay Signal System service. Board Approves Strategic Plan , is being installed along the The meeting kicked off the first of a two-phase In September, the Caltrain board approved the Strategic Plan Effective Dec. 21, the Caltrain corridor. In September, installation of the public outreach effort on the EMUs. Staff is sharing for the rail agency. The plan establishes a common vision for Youth fare category will fiber optic cable between information from the RFI process the agency and helps frame key policy, service and investment include 18 year olds. Redwood City and San Jose was at public meetings and at Caltrain decisions over the next 10 years. It has been a decade since This will allow those completed. Crews are working stations and soliciting public Caltrain last adopted an official Strategic traveling to school, work in the San Carlos, Belmont and input on structural and capacity Plan. Over that time, ridership has or for fun to continue San Mateo areas. issues related to bathrooms, more than doubled on the system. to purchase the Eligible At a recent Caltrain Board seats and standees, and bike Discount fare products, meeting, CalMod staff provided capacity. Public feedback will be Over the last 10 months, priced at half of the cost an update on the new Electric coupled with technical analysis Caltrain staffers presented of an adult ticket or pass. Multiple Unit train procurement to inform staff recommendations the draft Strategic Plan to process and shared information to the Board regarding the EMU the Caltrain Citizens Advisory The age change is part learned from the Request for Request for Proposal, scheduled Committee, the Bicycle of a regional effort to Advisory Committee and Information meetings, which to be released early next year. have a consistent age for the Local Policy Maker Group, were completed in June. The RFI Phase two of the outreach "youth". as well as to other stakeholders Y is a critical step in the procure- will occur after the car builder and the public. YOUTH ment process and provides up-to-date has been selected and will focus information about the EMU industry. With this on interior design, configuration and aesthetics. Stay information, staff can begin to more clearly up to date at www.caltrain.com/emu. Hockey Season Is Back! EVENTS CALENDAR A Letter to Caltrain The San Jose Sharks are back at Take Caltrain to these special the SAP Center. The Sharks will be events. The station name and seeking their 11th straight playoff any additional transit service are appearance this season. Before Caltrain Adjusts listed below each event. boarding, buy a Day Pass. Clipper card users (e-cash and 8-ride Holiday Schedules tickets) are reminded to tag on Caltrain will operate a Sunday Nov. 15 - 23 Oklahoma! schedule on Thanksgiving and tag off. Also remember, open Mountain View Center for the Day, Thursday, Nov. 27. On alcoholic beverage containers aren't Performing Arts the day after Thanksgiving, allowed onboard trains starting at www.mountainview.gov Friday, Nov. 28, Caltrain will 9 p.m. on game nights. Visit Mountain Station station www.sharks.nhl.com for Sharks run a Saturday schedule. season schedule. On Dec. 24 and Dec. 31, Nov. 22 - 23 Caltrain will operate regular Tree Lighting Celebration service. On Christmas Day Pier 39 and New Year's Day, Caltrain www.pier39.com What Effect Does an Earthquake will operate a Sunday San Francisco station schedule. Have on Caltrain Service Nov. 23 Take the train to the San Joan Sebastian & th It's the 25 anniversary of range of vision short of an item Francisco Bowl at Levi's® Los Tigres Del Norte the Loma Prieta earthquake. So, on the tracks or bad tracks. Train Stadium on Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. SAP Center at San Jose 4 it seems timely to look at how cannot exceed 20 mph.) For post-game service, check 5 www.sapcenteratsanjose.com 5 an earthquake could affect www.caltrain.com/events. San Jose station Caltrain service. Magnitude 5.8 - 6.2 If within a 50-mile radius, stop Caltrain has a membership until track can be inspected. If Once again Caltrain will in the University of California Nov. 28 - 30 within a 100-mile radius, operate provide free rides on Dec. 31 International Gem & at Berkeley's Earthquake at restricted speed. beginning at 8 p.m. and Jewelry Show Data Integration system. The continuing until the end of the San Mateo County Event Center computer is located in the Tracks south of San Jose are service day. Extra service will www.sanmateoexpo.org Caltrain Central Control Facility owned and inspected by Union be provided on New Year's Hillsdale station in San Jose. Pacific Railroad. Day to accommodate Board Approves Purchase of Additional Rail Cars Since 1994, Caltrain has Caltrain inspects tracks using homeward bound post-party continued from page 1 used the REDI system to identify Dec. 6 a hi-rail vehicle. It could take a travelers with trains departing cars, which include two bike cars. funds by reinvesting surplus the magnitude and location of Hometown Holidays number of hours to inspect the San Francisco at 12:45 a.m., farebox revenue into the rail car earthquakes and their possible Trains can carry between 550 and Downtown Redwood City tracks (this also depends on how 1:15 a.m., 1:45 a.m. and purchase. impact on Caltrain's tracks and 650 seated passengers. The new www.hometownholidays.org much damage is out there). 2:15 a.m., or when full. structures. Without REDI, Caltrain cars will be used to expand a Redwood City station Inspection crews look for maintenance of way staff would number of peak-hour trains to six anything unusual, i.e. anything have to physically inspect all cars. Some station platforms may Football Fans that wasn't there the last time they thru Dec. 1 50-route miles between be unable to accommodate the Sympathy for the Devil: looked. The crews also check the San Francisco and San Jose. longer train sets, so Caltrain plans Taking the Train Satan, Sin & the Underworld condition of the tracks, the bridges, to make platform improvements Cantor Arts Center at Stanford the tunnels and look around to see 49er fans have made Caltrain Magnitude 4.5 before putting the trains into part of their game plan when head- www.museum.stanford.edu (within a 50-mile radius) alarm if there are any potential hazards, Palo Alto station such as trees or electrical wires service. ing to Levi's® Stadium. Fans ride the will sound. No action needed. Within hours of the recent ready to fall. The total cost of purchasing train to Mountain View and transfer North Bay earthquake, Caltrain Direction of inspection (from and renovating the equipment is to VTA . Customers also can Dec. 25 - 28 Magnitude 5.0 - 5.7 crews completed track and bridge If within a 50-mile radius, one end to the other or both ends approximately $15 million. The avoid long lines at the ticket Walking with Dinosaurs inspections. Trains were back on operate at restricted speed. to the middle) depends where the majority of this funding will be machine by using Clipper®or buying SAP Center at San Jose schedule and were able to get (Restricted speed: movement hi-rail vehicles are, magnitude of covered by a farebox revenue bond. a joint Caltrain/VTA adult Day Pass. www.sapcenteratsanjose.com fans to the 49ers game in time must be made at a speed that the earthquake and where the Caltrain will cover the remaining For more information, go to San Jose station for kickoff. allows stopping within half the trains are. www.caltrain.com/49ers. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014 Annual Holiday Train Arrive & San Francisco 4:00 pm Returns Dec. 6 7 Burlingame 5:15 pm privileged children in the area. Representatives from the Redwood City 6:15 pm Salvation Army and members of Mountain View 6:55 pm the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots Program will be on Santa Clara 8:10 pm hand to collect donations of new, unwrapped toys. Entertainment will be Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014 provided at each station prior to Arrive the train's arrival. During each 20-minute stop, people can San Francisco 4:00 pm enjoy holiday music led by a traditional Salvation Army brass Millbrae 5:15 pm band and onboard carolers. Santa, Mrs. Claus, Frosty, Rudolph San Mateo 6:20 pm and the rest of the North Pole gang will get off the train to greet Menlo Park 7:45 pm children and their families and Sunnyvale 8:40 pm 6 Santa and his elves will be pose for pictures. 6 making whistle stops along the The train starts both nights Peninsula this year as part of at 4 p.m. at the San Francisco the train crew for the 2014 Caltrain Station. On Saturday, Caltrain Connection is produced Caltrain Holiday Train presented the festivities will kick-off with a by the Peninsula Corridor Joint by Silicon Valley Community brief ceremony to welcome the Powers Board. Comments, questions, contributions and Foundation. The glittering show crowd that will include speakers, suggestions should be directed to: train returns Saturday, Dec. 6, musical entertainment and a and Sunday, Dec. 7. chance to meet Santa before Mary Knuckles, editor Glowing with thousands of he heads down the Peninsula. [email protected] lights and holiday decorations, Santa's helpers can get Caltrain Connection P.O. Box 3006 the train will make stops at nine into the holiday spirit by San Carlos, CA 94070-1306 stations over the two nights, donating to the Holiday Train collecting toys for under- at www.holiday-train.org. Caltrain Board of Directors Tom Nolan, chair José Cisneros Malia Cohen Rose Guilbault Ash Kalra Adrienne Tissier Perry Woodward Ken Yeager

Michael J. Scanlon Executive Director

1.800.660.4287 www.caltrain.com