Commuter Rail Extension Alternatives Analysis - Transportation ...

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CALTRAIN EXTENSION TO MONTEREY COUNTYALTERNATIVES ANALYSISedge of Castroville where it connects toSR 1. As a connector, it experienceshigh weekday peak period and weekendtraffic volumes, carrying a significantnumber of visitors.This facility carries local and interregionaltruck traffic, agricultural traffic, andcommuter traffic. As such, improvementsto SR 156 are considered to be vital tothe county economy and have beenclassified as a regional priority by TAMC.The segment of SR 156 between Castrovilleand U.S. 101 has also been identifiedas a “focus route” by Caltrans. Thelevel of service along this section of roadis currently an E and is expected to dropto F by the year 2010 if no improvementsare undertaken.645188AA-059The first part of the improvement project would widen the existing conventional two-lane highway to afour-lane expressway between Castroville and the existing U.S. 101 interchange in Prunedale. Thesecond part of the project would construct interchange improvements at U.S. 101 and SR 156 toimprove traffic flow in the area. The estimated cost of these highway improvements is $248 million.Currently, the project is undergoing environmental review. Due to funding constraints, the project isnot assumed to be constructed until 2020 or later, but is assumed for the 2030 No Build Alternative.MST Public Transportation PlansMonterey–Salinas Transit (MST) serves a 275-square-mile area of Monterey County and southernSanta Cruz County. MST’s 33 routes serve an estimated 352,000 population based on the areawithin ¾-mile of established routes within the county.MST’s routes provide service primarily in the Monterey Peninsula jurisdictions and in the SalinasValley. Intercity service is provided via Highway 68 and SR 1 between these two urban areas ofMonterey County. In addition, intercity routes connect MST with the Santa Cruz Metropolitan TransitDistrict at their Transit Center in Watsonville.In fiscal year (FY) 2005, MST operated 3,116,583 vehicle miles of service and carried 4,738,112 onits fleet of 78 buses and 6 trolleys. Its farebox recovery ratio was 27.7 percent and its FY 2006operating budget is $19.6 million.Due to uncertain funding, MST prepares a Business Plan and Short Range Transit Plan every otheryear. Its current plan, covering FY 2006 through FY 2008 was adopted as modified in October 2005.These plans set forth a conservative expansion strategy given anticipated capital and operatingfunding shortfalls of $100 million over the five-year transit plan horizon. Funding is needed to expandand improve service, expand and improve its bus fleet, and to construct new transit centers and anoperations and maintenance facility.If the TAMC-sponsored sales tax initiative had passed on June 6, 2006, MST intended to increaseservice on high demand routes and initiate service on a number of new routes. While the sales taxparsons CHAPTER 3: DETAILED DEFINITION OF ALTERNATIVES 51
CALTRAIN EXTENSION TO MONTEREY COUNTYALTERNATIVES ANALYSISinitiative did not pass 2 , MST initiated a new intercity route between Monterey and San Jose on August28, 2006. Line 55 consists of three round trips each day, 365 days a year. One round trip occurs themorning commute period, departing downtown Monterey at 5:15 AM with a scheduled arrival at theSan Jose Diridon Caltrain station at 7:28 AM. A midday trip departs Monterey at 9:50 AM, arrives atSan Jose by 12:03 PM and returns, leaving San Jose at 1:35 PM. The afternoon commute period tripdeparts San Jose Diridon at 5:53 PM and is scheduled to arrive in downtown Monterey at 7:53 PM.This service makes intermediate stops in Seaside/Sand City, Prunedale, Gilroy and Morgan Hill.Fares are $8 for the full Monterey to San Jose trip. This new route is the only public transportationbetween Monterey County and San Jose over and above the existing Amtrak Coast Starlight trainand Thruway bus service, and Greyhound intercity bus service; both operating between Salinas andSan Jose. Amtrak operates six round trips between Salinas and San Jose daily with a round trip fareof $32.00. None of the trips operate within the commute window, save one southbound trip leavingSan Jose (Diridon Station) at 3:25 PM. Greyhound operates five round trips per day between Salinasand San Jose. These make intermediate stops and offer a $23.00 round trip fare. Two northboundtrips, leaving Salinas at 5:15 AM and 7:50 AM, operate within the commute journey to work window.Beyond these options, Monterey County commuters will need to drive to the Caltrain station at Gilroyand park-and-ride from that point northward.Caltrain Commuter Rail ServiceCaltrain currently operates three round trip trains between Gilroy and San Francisco on weekdays.Prior to August 2005, four Caltrain round trips to Gilroy were offered. The Santa Clara Valley TransportationAuthority (VTA) is the lead agency for Caltrain operations and program development betweenSan Jose and Gilroy. As part of its Long-term Transit Capital Investment Program, VTA hasnegotiated an agreement with Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) which grants VTA/JPB (Peninsula CorridorJoint Powers Board) rights to operate up to 20 trains (10 round trips) between Gilroy and SanJose upon completion of $35 million of capacity improvements. These improvements include constructionof 8.5 miles of double track (addition of a second track) between San Jose and Gilroy onUPRR property. VTA also plans to construct a Gilroy yard facility to accommodate storage of 10commuter rail train sets.Exhibit 1, shown on the following page, presents the prototypical schedule developed for the 10roundtrip train negotiations between VTA and UPRR. The exhibit indicates a start year that isdependent on ridership levels and VTA funding availability. For the No Build Alternative, at least fourround trips trains are assumed to be in operation by 2010. For the 2030 planning horizon, ten roundtrip trains per weekday are assumed.DEFINITION OF THE CALTRAIN EXTENSION ALTERNATIVEInstitutional FrameworkPeninsula Corridor Joint Powers BoardCaltrain is governed by a Joint Powers Agreement between San Francisco, San Mateo and SantaClara counties, which established the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board. San Mateo CountyTransit (SamTrans) is the managing partner and is responsible for operations and planning for thesystem. The trackage, stations and most parking areas, from Tamien Station in San Jose to San2Ballot Measure A required a two-thirds majority. The Yes vote received 57.13 percent of the votes cast.parsons CHAPTER 3: DETAILED DEFINITION OF ALTERNATIVES 52
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