California State Rail Plan 2007-08 to 2017-18

Chapter IX – Commuter Rail ServicesCALTRAIN COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE(SAN FRANCISCO-SAN JOSE-GILROY)PRINCIPAL 2007-08 to 2017-18 OBJECTIVES• Evaluate the service to meet growing demand.• Evaluate an increase in parking at stations impacted by initiation ofBaby Bullet service.• Increase employer bus shuttles as demand grows.• Implement Translink regional ticketing system.• Participate in planning efforts for extensions to downtownSan Francisco, across the Dumbarton Bridge, and to Salinas.• Complete and commission Centralized Equipment Maintenance andOperations Facility.• Improve operational capacity at targeted stations and other routelocations, including outside boarding platforms and additionalcrossovers.• Complete customer service improvements, including improved stationaccess and amenities at selected stations.• Improve ROW by designing grade separations in San Mateo County,and rehabilitate bridges, culverts, tracks, and tunnels.• Prepare design plans, specifications, and estimates to electrify the routebetween San Francisco and Gilroy.• Implement Dumbarton rail service extension.• Procure eight bi-level passenger cars.• Define long-term planning and capital improvement efforts related toCaltrain 2025.BACKGROUNDThe Caltrain commuter rail service (previously known as the Peninsula CommuteService) operates on one of the oldest railroad lines in California. The SP operatedpassenger rail service on the peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose fromthe 1860s until 1980 when SP decided to phase the service out. The Departmentand the counties of San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara reached a serviceagreement to preserve the passenger rail service.Between 1980 and July 1991, the Department’s District 4 administereda purchase-of-service agreement with SP to continue operating and partiallyfunding the service in cooperation with local agencies. The Department’s151