Commuter Rail Extension Alternatives Analysis - Transportation ...

CALTRAIN EXTENSION TO MONTEREY COUNTYALTERNATIVES ANALYSISAdditional trainset capacity (additions of coaches to consists) required to accommodate ridersboarding/deboarding in Monterey County are assumed to be addressed through Federal TransitAdministration grant requests, with TAMC providing the local funding match contribution. Acquisitionof rolling stock to accommodate the initial (two round trip) service plan for extending Caltrain toSalinas has not been identified as a near-term requirement by this Alternatives Analysis. At sometime in the future, TAMC anticipates the need to participate in JPB’s rolling stock acquisition program.For the purpose of the Alternatives Analysis Study, the Caltrain Extension Alternative assumes theacquisition of four bi-level passenger coaches, one for each of the trainsets operating to/from Salinas.This rolling stock may not be required to accommodate peak passenger loads. The capital cost of thisequipment is included as a risk element for comparison with the Express Bus Alternative.JPB/TAMC SubsidiesThe Caltrain Extension Alternative assumes no JPB subsidies of Caltrain extension service. It alsoassumes that there will be no TAMC subsidies of Caltrain service north of Gilroy. The purchase ofservice agreement between JPB and TAMC is assumed to be cost based, without profit.Core System Improvements/TAMC ParticipationThe Caltrain Extension to Monterey County enjoys widespread support by Bay Area and State policymakers. The Caltrain Extension Alternative assumes no “buy in” requirements (funding for capitalimprovements to the existing system), as none have been identified by JPB/VTA Board members orstaff in negotiations to date.Insofar as improvements needed to accommodate the extension of Caltrain service to MontereyCounty, the Caltrain Extension Alternative assumes that TAMC will (or could be required to)participate in funding these improvements. These include:• Additional trainset capacity (four bi-level passenger coaches assumed as a risk element)• Additional trainset layover capacity (in Salinas)—see pages 72 and 73• Gilroy station track extension to East Luchessa Avenue and mainline turnout—see pages 72and 74• South Terminal Improvements to address bottlenecks and multi-operator capacity demands(see Appendix A). These improvements are currently underway and are therefore notassumed—potential risk element.Physical Station, Yard and Track Components of the Caltrain Extension AlternativeThe physical components of the Caltrain Extension Alternative are described and detailed in theCaltrain Extension to Monterey County Project Study Report (PSR), dated February 21, 2006. ThisPSR documents program requirements, locational alternatives, design considerations, designexceptions, property acquisition and relocation plans, real estate cost studies, conceptual designplans, and detailed cost estimates, based on the 10 percent design plans. 4The PSR is a “Project Initiation Document” which provides sufficient project detail and cost estimatesto allow a project to be included in the State Transportation Improvement Program at the discretion ofthe California Transportation Commission. The Caltrain Extension to Monterey County PSR is4Station Program Requirements are identified in Appendix B-2 of the Caltrain Extension to Monterey County Project Study Report. Thisdocument is included as Appendix B of this report as it identifies station access, parking, and amenity requirements.parsons CHAPTER 3: DETAILED DEFINITION OF ALTERNATIVES 64