California State Rail Plan 2007-08 to 2017-18

Chapter I - California’s Vision for Intercity Passenger RailTHE DEPARTMENT’S MISSION AND VISION FORINTERCITY PASSENGER RAILThe Department’s Intercity Passenger Rail Mission and Vision as shown in thisCalifornia State Rail Plan 2007-08 to 2017-18 (Plan) supports the SGP, AB 32, theCTP, and the Department’s Mission and Goals, and summarizes and guides theDepartment’s efforts in relation to intercity rail.INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL MISSIONThe Intercity Passenger Rail Mission for California is to:Provide and promote Intercity Passenger Rail services while improving,expanding, and integrating all rail service into California’s transportation system.INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL VISIONThe vision for intercity passenger rail has three key goals. They are:Provide a Rail Transportation Alternative to Other Travel Modes –Rail service provides a safe, efficient and cost-effective alternative to auto and airtravel. There has never been a passenger fatality on State-supported Amtrakservice in California. For trips between certain cities, rail provides the onlyalternative travel mode to the auto. Rail travel often provides the only viablemode of travel for disabled, senior and low-income travelers. Business and leisuretravelers may choose rail for cost efficiency, and ease of travel. Rail can provide acost-effective alternative to all travelers in some short haul air marketscharacterized by high fares, such as for air travel within the San Joaquin Valley.Provide Relief to Highway and Air Transportation Congestion – In manyintercity corridors highway demand is near or has already exceeded capacity, andin many instances, it is not financially or environmentally feasible to add capacity.Intercity rail currently provides congestion relief in corridors where capacity hasalready been exceeded, and rail service can be expanded to provide additionalcongestion relief. Intercity rail thus provides an alternative to building newhighway capacity. Current investment in rail facilities and infrastructure willprotect rail capacity so it is available in the future to provide critical relief tohighway and airway systems.Concerning the air transportation network, it is also environmentally andfinancially difficult to build additional airport capacity. Intercity rail provides aneffective alternative to short haul air travel, such as from the Central Valley to theBay Area or Southern California. It reduces air pollution and helps relievecongestion at airports by eliminating the need for some short distance flights.9