Commuter Rail Extension Alternatives Analysis - Transportation ...

CALTRAIN EXTENSION TO MONTEREY COUNTYALTERNATIVES ANALYSISincluded with this Alternatives Analysis by reference as the physical definition of the CaltrainExtension Alternative.The Caltrain Extension Alternative has been defined over the course of a four-year period (March2002 to February 2006) based on extensive public, city, and Union Pacific Railroad input. Theevolution of design concepts and project components are detailed in the Caltrain Extension toMonterey County PSR.The Caltrain Extension Alternative’s physical components include construction of passenger railstations in Pajaro/ Watsonville and Castroville, rehabilitation and expansion of the Salinas IntermodalTransportation Center, construction of a Caltrain layover facility in Salinas, and minor track and signalimprovements on the UPRR Coast Line between Gilroy and Salinas. These project components aresummarized below.Pajaro Valley StationThe Pajaro Valley station will serve the unincorporated community of Pajaro, located at the northernend of Monterey County, and Watsonville, which is located at the south end of Santa Cruz County.Under the Caltrain Extension Alternative, this station will include the following elements:• A rail passenger loading platform 700 feet long by 20 feet wide• Intertrack fencing separating the main line from the Pajaro Valley station track• Platform shelters, lighting, furniture and fixtures, ticket vending machines, informationdisplays, and landscaping• Station building (provided by others), furniture and fixtures, information displays• Bus, shuttle, and van loading/unloading berths, shelters, information displays• Parking, bicycle facilities, sidewalks, and circulation roadways• Roadway, signing and striping, and roadway median construction• Relocation of track, turnouts, track removals, and railroad signaling• Modification of railroad grade crossing warning devices at Lewis Road• Site drainage, lighting, and landscaping• Access to the station platform via the Santa Cruz branch rail line.Surface parking for approximately 410 vehicles will be provided on the west side of the tracks,roughly parallel with Salinas Road. The northwest corner of the site will remain vacant and provide anopportunity for expansion of parking or other future development. A bus loading and turn-around areawill be located on the northeast corner of the parking lot.Vehicular traffic will access the station via two driveways on Salinas Road between its intersectionswith Lewis Road and Railroad Avenue.A significant amount of track work is required to accommodate a Caltrain station at this location(which is preferred by UPRR and the Pajaro community).parsons CHAPTER 3: DETAILED DEFINITION OF ALTERNATIVES 65