California State Rail Plan 2007-08 to 2017-18

2007-08 – 2017-18 California State Rail PlanThere has been interest for many years in providing additional Coast Route serviceto better link California’s two largest metropolitan areas. In 1992, H.R. 39 waspassed requesting a Coast Corridor intercity rail corridor upgrade study beconducted by the regional transportation planning agencies along the Corridor incooperation with the Department. As a result, concerned local agencies formedthe Coast Rail Coordinating Council (CRCC) that is staffed by the San LuisObispo Council of Governments. The Coast Rail Improvement Study issued inthe fall of 1994 resulted from H.R. 39. Then in 1996, the Coast RouteInfrastructure Assessment Report was completed. One of the main goals of theCRCC is to “close the gap” in State-supported train services by connectingdowntown Los Angeles and downtown San Francisco with daily train service.In 2000, the CCRC issued a Coast Daylight Implementation Plan that envisionsdaily service operating on Caltrain tracks from San Francisco to San Jose, and thenon UP tracks to Moorpark, and then on Metrolink tracks to Los Angeles. Stationsare planned in San Francisco, Millbrae, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Santa Clara,San Jose, Gilroy, Pajaro, Salinas, Soledad, King City, Paso Robles, San LuisObispo, and south to Los Angeles stopping at existing Pacific Surfliner stations.The study includes operating costs, and in fall 2004, the CRCC released theCapacity Analysis for this service. The analysis identified several capitalimprovements that would be helpful in order to increase train frequencies on theCoast Route. The CRCC is now working with Amtrak, UP, and the Department toidentify how to move forward on Capital Projects. A total of over $26 million willlikely soon be programmed for capital improvements; The Department hasrecommended $25 million from Proposition 1B funds for new track or sidings forthe Coast Daylight; and both the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments andTransportation Agency for Monterey County have each committed $500,000.Additionally, $18.3 million is included in the 2006 State TransportationImprovement Program (STIP) augmentation, approved by the CaliforniaTransportation Commission (CTC), for sidings in Santa Barbara and Venturacounties in the portion of the Route south of San Luis ObispoOperating PlanThe Department’s ten-year operating plan includes one round-trip train betweenSan Francisco and San Luis Obispo, starting in 2010-11, with a second train in2013-14. The first train would be operated from San Luis Obispo to Los Angelesas an extension of the new Pacific Surfliner train added in November 2004, andwould provide through train service between San Francisco and Los Angeles.The second train would operate as an extension of the planned third Los Angeles-San Luis Obispo round-trip. Direct train connections to San Diego at Los Angeleswould be available on most trips. The Department is working to obtain equipmentto be used for the service.168