Commuter Rail Extension Alternatives Analysis - Transportation ...

CALTRAIN EXTENSION TO MONTEREY COUNTYALTERNATIVES ANALYSISShuttle Train Service to GilroyThis alternative would operate regularly scheduled shuttle train service between three stations locatedin Monterey County (Pajaro, Castroville and Salinas) and the Gilroy Caltrain station. Scheduleswould be devised to meet Caltrain trips, allowing for cross track transfers at the existing Gilroy station.Physical improvements to stations, platforms, park-and-ride facilities, main line track, and layoverfacilities, defined for the Caltrain Extension Alternative, would be assumed for this Shuttle TrainService Alternative. Additionally, this alternative would require purchase of locomotives andpassenger coaches for the shuttle trainsets running between Salinas and Gilroy.To minimize impacts to UPRR freight operations, and therefore minimize the need for offsettingmainline capacity improvements; this alternative would store the shuttle trains in Gilroy during themidday on VTA’s existing layover tracks.Compared with the Caltrain Extension Alternative, the Shuttle Train Alternative would be moreexpensive, both from a capital and operating perspective. Insofar as capital costs, the Shuttle TrainAlternative would require the purchase of FRA-compliant rolling stock that would stand idle for all buttwo hours, 255 weekdays per year. From an operating cost perspective, a shuttle train service wouldbe cost prohibitive as train crew productivity (vehicle hours of revenue service) would be less than 15percent of crew paid time.Independent Train Service to San FranciscoThis alternative would operate regularly scheduled, independent, commuter rail service betweenthree stations located in Monterey County (Pajaro, Castroville and Salinas) and the San FranciscoCaltrain station. Schedules would be devised to interlace with Caltrain trips, thereby supplementing orreplacing existing Caltrain service. Similar to Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) service, trainswould originate in Salinas and make one northbound trip in the morning to San Francisco. During themidday, trains would layover in San Francisco before returning to Salinas in the evening.Monterey County based trains would make selected stops at stations between Gilroy and SanFrancisco. To minimize disruptions to existing Caltrain operating schedules, Monterey County basedtrains could piggyback behind Caltrain Baby Bullet trains, or replace selected trips (such as trains215, 319, 323, 329, 362, 368, 372 and 378) altogether.Physical improvements to stations, platforms, park-and-ride facilities, main line track, and layoverfacilities, defined for the Caltrain Extension Alternative, would be assumed for this Independent TrainService Alternative. Additionally, this alternative would require purchase of locomotives andpassenger coaches for the trainsets running between Salinas and San Francisco.To minimize impacts to Union Pacific Railroad freight operations, and therefore minimize the need foradditional offsetting mainline capacity improvements, the Transportation Agency for Monterey Countywould assume the responsibility for its proportional share of track improvements and slot feesnegotiated by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority with Union Pacific for increased servicebetween Gilroy and San Jose.parsons CHAPTER 3: DETAILED DEFINITION OF ALTERNATIVES 89