California State Rail Plan 2007-08 to 2017-18

Chapter IX – Commuter Rail Servicesstrongly supported by voters in 1990, and the number one project identified forfunding was Altamont passenger rail service. In 1995, the seven cities andSan Joaquin County formed a joint powers agreement that created the San JoaquinRegional Rail Commission (SJRRC) to implement the rail plan and to exploreagreements with the counties of Santa Clara and Alameda. This created a fivememberboard of directors appointed by the San Joaquin Council of Governments.San Joaquin County has contributed over $40 million in Measure K funding forAltamont Commuter Express (ACE) rail service.In May 1997, SJRRC, the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency(ACCMA), and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) executedan agreement to create the Altamont Commuter Express Joint Powers Authority(JPA). The ACE JPA was dissolved on June 30th 2003 and a cooperative servicesagreement was executed between SJRRC, ACCMA and SCVTA.The Cooperative services agreement identified the SJRRC as the owner/operatorof the ACE service, overseeing the day-to-day management, planning, and supportservices necessary to operate the trains. The SJRRC issued a contract foroperations and maintenance of equipment to Herzog Transit Services, Inc., andservice began on October 19, 1998. Initially there were two westbound morningtrains and two eastbound evening trains. In March 2001 a third train wasinaugurated which gave ACE passengers later departure options and easedovercrowding and on August 28th 2006 a fourth midday train was initiated incoordination with Caltrans Division of Rail and Caltrans District 10.Funding for the operation and management of the ACE service is provided bypassenger fares, Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds, State TransitAssistance (STA), ACCMA funding through Alameda County’s one-half centsales tax Measure B and SCVTA funding. Each agency's annual share is based onthe percentage of total ACE daily boardings and alightings that occurred in fiscalyear 2002/03 in each county. Cost sharing for capital projects, excluding stations,is determined on a case-by-case basis and approved by each of the agencies.Station improvements are the responsibility of the agency for the county in whichthe station is located.ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTUREThe SJRRC is a Joint Powers Authority consisting of the County of San Joaquinand the cities of Escalon, Lathrop, Lodi, Manteca, Ripon, Stockton, and Tracy.The commission is governed by a Board of Directors which consists of six electedofficials appointed by the San Joaquin Council of Governments from nominationsby local agencies, and is supplemented by two elected officials appointed by theACCMA to address rail service issues affecting Alameda County. Ex-officiomembers represent Caltrans District 10, San Joaquin Regional Transit District, andthe San Joaquin Council of Governments.159