and the TAMC March Meeting Report By Chris Flescher, RailPAC Associate Director Planners, working for the city of Salinas, are currently creating a plan that would significantly redevelop the downtown area. I attended a public meeting that described many aspects of the plan. The plan may be finalized in about two years from now, and…

Presentation/Open House Report by Marcia Johnston, RailPAC Director Sacramento Amtrak Station Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Introduction: Mike Wiley, General Manager, Sacramento Regional Transit Presenter: Jim Heck, Consultant, HDR Engineering The Environmental Impact Report [EIR] is a report that documents the potential impacts of a proposed project. Under Federal and State laws, certain proposed projects require…

TAMC Rail Policy Committee 2-2-2009 Reported by Chris Flescher RailPAC Associate Director, Salinas For the Monterey Branch Line (MBL) project, the alternatives analysis is happening. All alternatives will connect with the future Caltrain extension in Castroville. Two alternatives appear to be the most viable, and the service could start operation in 2014/2015. The alternatives being…

by Bruce Jenkins, RailPAC Director The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) met in Suisun City on Wednesday, February 18, 2009. The Board approved the CCJPA FY ’09-’10 — FY ’10-’11 Business Plan Update. The Plan will be finalized and submitted to the Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing Agency (BT&H) by Apr ’09. (Note:…

Reported by  Eugene K. Skoropowski, Managing Director, Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority  After the relatively modest November growth in Capitol Corridor riders (+2.7%), we were expecting to see a significant slowing of ridership growth on the Capitol Corridor in December, reflecting the impacts of both the economic downturn, as well as falling gas prices.  It did…

Reported by Bruce Jenkins, RailPAC Director The San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee met in Merced Thursday, January 8, 2009.  RailPAC Associate Director George Gaekle, from Modesto, who also is a SJVRC committee member, introduced the new committee member for Stanislaus County, County Supervisor Vito Chiesa. Ty Holscher from Tulare County reported that “in view of the economic situation…

Reported by Chuck Robuck, CC Riders President, RailPAC Member from Auburn FYI, I attended this meeting as a CC Rider rep and wanted to give you a brief recap. BACKGROUND The purpose of the meeting was to reconstitute the Funding Strategy Steering Committee that had been established several years ago to look at Placer County…

Reported by Gene Skoropowski In spite of the big Thanksgiving weekend travel surge, ridership growth for November 2008 in all of California was quite modest, likely reflecting the impacts of both the economic downturn, as well as falling gas prices. Sustained on-time performance on the Capitol Corridor has helped keep riders, and improved on-time performance…

From Gene Skoropowski Northern California Corridor ridership on the Capitol Corridor and San Joaquins continues double-digit growth, despite economic slowdown and falling gas prices, while the Pacific Surfliner ridership levelled off after months of growth. Ridership and revenue results for the month of October 2008 (the first of the new Federal Fiscal Year) remain strong…

Reported by Chris Flescher, RailPAC Associate Director, Salinas The TAMC Rail Policy Committee met on 2-25-08 For the Caltrain extension to Salinas, the capital budget is fully funded through phases 1 and 2. There is some funding for some of the needed ROW purchases and funding for some of the needed construction. TAMC is applying…