SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA: Transit/Transportation News

[San Frangelino]

Good news! Too bad there won't be a direct connection into SF until the Larkspur station is completed. I noticed that the SMART website has been updated!

[fflint]

Yesterday was a rough day for Muni trains--at one point, the F line streetcars and the K, L, and M Metro lines were all down simultaneously. No wonder there were so many helicopters over the Castro yesterday! What a mess.

Muni Rail Service Resumes After Overnight Repairs
February 3, 2012 8:36 AM
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2012/02/03/muni-rail-service-resumes-after-overnight-repairs/

Repairs on downed San Francisco Municipal Railway overhead lines in the Castro District were completed early Friday morning and the morning’s commute was expected to run as normal, according to Muni officials.

Around 2 p.m. Thursday overhead lines came down near Muni’s Church station at Church and Market streets, Muni spokesman Paul Rose said.

Repair work disrupted the K, L and M light-rail lines and shuttle buses were used in their place between the West Portal and Church stations.

Repairs were completed around 1 a.m. Friday morning.
....

Semi Takes Down Muni Wires At Market And Van Ness
by Bay City News
February 2, 2012
http://sfappeal.com/news/2012/02/semi-takes-down-muni-wires-at-market-and-van-ness.php

Commuters are facing delays and disruptions in San Francisco Municipal Railway service this evening as crews continue repairs on downed overhead wires.

Crews finished repairing wires that came down at Van Ness Avenue and Market Street at around 2 p.m. this afternoon when a large semi truck carrying cars snagged overhead wires, Muni spokesman Paul Rose said.

At around the same time, however, overhead lines came down near Muni's Church station at Church and Market streets and remain down this evening, Rose said.
....

[CyberEric]

^Reeeeeally glad I worked from home that day!

[fflint]

Caltrain plan would fast-track electric rail
Michael Cabanatuan
San Francisco Chronicle
February 13, 2012

The overhaul of California's high-speed rail project could bring the Bay Area $1 billion to electrify Caltrain and lay the path for bullet train service between San Francisco and San Jose sooner than anticipated.

The Chronicle has learned that officials with Bay Area transportation agencies are in negotiations with each other, and with the California High-Speed Rail Authority, to craft an agreement that would fund an advanced train-control system, electrify the rails on the Peninsula and eliminate some of the rail crossings - perhaps as soon as 2016, five to 10 years earlier than previous estimates.
...
Electrification would allow Caltrain to run lighter, faster and cleaner trains, which officials believe would boost ridership. Along with an advanced train-control system, which has been mandated by federal rail officials for commuter lines, it would also lay the infrastructure needed to carry high-speed trains up and down the Peninsula without significant construction.
....

A southbound Caltrain arriving at the station in Mountain View, Calif., on Thursday, February 9, 2012. Caltrain between San Francisco to San Jose is seeing electrified trains as a potential to the commuter rail line. Photo: Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle

[fflint]

SMART to buy a (draw)bridge

By Bob Norberg
The Press Democrat
Monday, February 13, 2012

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit officials intend to buy a used drawbridge in Galveston, Texas, to replace the 109-year-old swing bridge over the Petaluma River.

Rather than launch a $20 million rehab of the aging structure at Haystack Landing, and then perhaps spending $30 million to replace it in 20 years, SMART says that for $20 million it can buy and install the used bridge and have it last 75 to 80 years.
....
Gamlen said the new bridge would open or close in about 90 seconds, instead of the 2½ to 3 minutes needed for the swing bridge.

It also is long enough to allow the Petaluma River channel to be widened from 56 feet to 87 feet, and allow SMART trains to cross at higher speeds.

Parts of old swing could be used in other areas on the SMART line, primarily at creek crossings and to replace existing wooden trestles.
....


Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit officials are planning to buy a used drawbridge in Galveston, Texas, to replace the district's swing bridge over the Petaluma River that, while historic and repairable, is badly in need of replacement.

[fflint]

BART extension to San Jose getting $250 million in federal funds -- more than expected
By Gary Richards
The Mercury News
02/13/2012

Federal transportation officials have approved a $250 million infusion for the BART-to-San Jose project -- more than its planners had even hoped for.

The Valley Transportation Authority announced Monday that it will receive $100 million in federal funds for the current fiscal year as soon as an agreement with the Federal Transit Administration is signed March 12. And for the fiscal year beginning in October, the budget President Barack Obama released Monday calls for an additional $150 million for the 10-mile, $2.1 billion line from Fremont to the Berryessa area of San Jose. That's $20 million more than what local officials had originally estimated they would get annually.
....
Having that $250 million means fewer dollars will have to be spent on issuing bonds and paying off debt service.

"Helps with cash flow," VTA general manager Michael Burns said. "The more we receive ahead of schedule, the less likely we will need to finance down the road, saving interest expense."
....

[mwadswor]

Originally Posted by fflint

it would also lay the infrastructure needed to carry high-speed trains up and down the Peninsula without significant construction.

Does this mean they're going to be putting down four tracks for caltrain possibly years before they're needed for HSR, or are they giving up on the four-track plan for HSR?

edit: This is obviously great news, I don't mean to only question the possible negatives

[peanut gallery]

^I think they are planning to electrify with the current track set-up, then add tracks later when HSR comes through. From later in the article fflint posted:

Preliminary results of a Caltrain study show that an electrified railroad could accommodate two high-speed trains an hour - at 110 mph - without additional tracks.

Caltrain would probably use part of the money to eliminate some of the Peninsula's 43 at-grade rail crossings by taking intersecting streets over or under the tracks. But building fully separated tracks, as on the BART system, won't be required, and could take place over time.

Murphy said Caltrain will also need to replace some bridges, tracks and rail ties to handle electrified and high-speed trains, and some of those improvements could also be included in a list of projects proposed to be funded by bonds.

It doesn't say it outright, but reading between the lines a bit it doesn't sound like this plan to electrify Caltrain would include 4-tracking.

[fflint]

It is unclear if Caltrain wants to four-track the corridor before the arrival of CAHSR, but there have been rumblings among the Penninsula NIMBY brigade that CAHSR is once again planning to quad-track their route from San Francisco all the way to the Pacheco Pass.

[fflint]

Bay Area’s First BRT System Coming to the East Bay By 2016
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
San Francisco Streetsblog
by Aaron Bialick


The proposed alignment. Image: AC Transit


Transit riders in the East Bay will get a boost in 2016 with the arrival of the region’s first Bus Rapid Transit corridor, connecting San Leandro and Oakland. The project recently reached a major milestone with the release of its final environmental impact report (EIR). AC Transit will begin fielding public feedback on the EIR next week, and construction could begin as soon as next year.

The project will speed up service on AC Transit Rapid Bus Routes 1 and 1R, primarily along International Boulevard from San Leandro BART Station to downtown Oakland. The BRT line is projected to increase transit speeds 39 percent, reduce automobile travel by 21,000 miles each day, lower operating costs, and spur transit-oriented growth along the roughly 14-mile corridor.

“BRT will bring a whole new level of efficiency, which will translate into quicker rides, more comfortable and more reliable rides that will attract more riders and dramatically improve this service that riders currently experience along the corridor,” said Joél Ramos, a community planner at the Oakland-based TransForm who also sits on the SFMTA Board of Directors. San Francisco is currently developing BRT routes on Geary Boulevard and Van Ness Avenue, but the East Bay project is expected to open first.

East Bay BRT will be “the first significant amount of infrastructure investment in east Oakland for over 35 years,” said Ramos. The route currently sees over 20,000 riders per day, and although BART runs parallel to it, Ramos pointed out that BRT improvements will create a more attractive option for those who can’t easily walk to a BART station or only want to travel locally.

“The bus service actually serves people who live between BART stations,” he said.
....
Check out the awesome 3d simulations!
• Video Link

[aquablue]

Originally Posted by fflint

It is unclear if Caltrain wants to four-track the corridor before the arrival of CAHSR, but there have been rumblings among the Penninsula NIMBY brigade that CAHSR is once again planning to quad-track their route from San Francisco all the way to the Pacheco Pass.

The question is: How much time does not having its own tracks add to the HSR SF-LA trip time? Would it reduce the attractiveness of the service compared to flights? Time is very important when it comes to rail trips. I'm not sure this is a wise move. Better to do it right the first time then come up with some half assed solution.

[fflint]

CAHSR wants four tracks. Caltrain wants four tracks. NIMBY scum only want two tracks.

[ardecila]

It depends on what changes to service Caltrain is willing to make. Electrified rolling stock will allow them to greatly speed up the local trains. So, would Caltrain be willing to dump the expresses altogether to make room for HSR? If so, then they could get by with only 10 miles of 4-track.

[fflint]

SMART rail cars on track for 2013 delivery
Bob Norberg
The Press Democraty
Monday, February 20, 2012

The commuter rail cars that will run between Sonoma and Marin counties have passed federal crash tests, are in the final design stages and are on track to be delivered in October 2013.

“This is the state of the art for commuter rail, which shares the track with freight railroads,” said Kevin Koyasu, president and chief executive officer of Nippon Sharyo USA, based in Arlington Heights, Ill.

The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District developed specifications for the new rail car to meet Federal Railroad Administration regulations for crash-worthiness and new emission standards that take effect in 2014.

The cars, called Diesel Multiple Units, are slope-nosed, self-propelled and powered by diesel engines. They run in pairs, with the ability to have a third non-powered car added in between to increase capacity.
....
SMART is paying $49 million for 12 cars.

Metrolinx, in Toronto, Canada, has ordered 18 of the cars at a cost of $75 million to run between downtown Toronto and the city's airport. It paid SMART $758,825 in development costs last March.

Koyasu said the new cars are expected to become a standard in the United States.
....
The transit district plans to have service running on 38.5 miles of line between Guerneville Road in Santa Rosa and downtown San Rafael in fall 2014 or early 2015.
....

[fflint]

Forgive the indulgence, but I came across a kick-🞵🞵🞵 Caltrain photo and this is probably the best thread in which to post it:


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7066/6847538999_19f9544dd7_b.jpg

If you look closely, you'll see not only the Caltrain locals and Baby Bullets but also a Muni Metro streetcar at the far right of the pic.

[peanut gallery]

^That's a cool shot. I always find the track layout particularly fascinating.

Sorry if this is a dumb question or already been posted, but will the SMART trainsets be driven directly by the diesel engines or will they be diesel-electric?

[fflint]

Originally Posted by peanut gallery

^That's a cool shot. I always find the track layout particularly fascinating.

Sorry if this is a dumb question or already been posted, but will the SMART trainsets be driven directly by the diesel engines or will they be diesel-electric?

That's not a stupid question, and I don't know the answer. Nothing I've read about SMART has mentioned hybrid technology, and I figure the folks at SMART would tout something appealing like that if they were in fact investing in it--so I suspect the trainsets are just cleaner DMUs.

[ardecila]

Almost all diesels on the railroads today are diesel-electric. If you don't convert the diesel output to electricity first, then your transmission has to deal with all the power of a locomotive as mechanical force - so you need one hell of a transmission, which takes up a lot of room - not a good thing when your engines are distributed underneath the floor of each coach. Typically, you need to change the mechanical force into something more usable - which is usually done by either converting to electrical or hydraulic force.

[northbay]

SMART to hold groundbreaking ceremony
By BOB NORBERG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 4:06 p.m.

The Sonoma-Marin commute rail agency is holding a ceremonial groundbreaking at the historic Petaluma depot Friday, attended by a large number of local, state and federal politicians to celebrate the beginning of construction.

Congress members Lynn Woolsey and Mike Thompson, state senators Mark Leno and Noreen Evans, Assembly members Jared Huffman, Wesley Chesbro and Michael Allen and Metropolitan Transportation Commissioner and­ Rohnert Park Mayor Jake MacKenzie are scheduled speakers.

The depot is near where the Petaluma station platform will be built as part of the 38.8-mile line from Guerneville Road in Santa Rosa to downtown San Rafael.

...

The groundbreaking is at 10:30 a.m. at the old Petaluma depot at Washington and Lakeville streets.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/201...le=SMART-to-hold-groundbreaking-ceremony

I will be unable to attend as one of my boys has a doctor's appointment. If you can, go show your support!

[northbay]

Hundreds attend SMART groundbreaking ceremony in Petaluma


Supervisor Valerie Brown and others at the Petaluma ceremony on Friday, Feb. 24, 2012.
KENT PORTER/ PD

By BOB NORBERG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Friday, February 24, 2012 at 1:27 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, February 24, 2012 at 1:27 p.m.

North Coast politicians and transit supporters gathered in Petaluma on Friday for a ceremonial groundbreaking for the SMART commute train that will run between Sonoma and Marin counties.

“This is a historic moment, it has been a long time coming,” said Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma. “We simply can't meet our transportation needs by building roads. It's not cost-effective. It is not smart.”

The ceremony was held at the historic Petaluma depot and attracted a crowd of 400, a large number of whom took turns with the 49 golden shovels to turn over a mound of dirt crossing the tracks.

The gathering came 30 years after politicians in both counties began working to preserve the Northwestern Pacific Railroad right-of-way as a future transit corridor, a decade after the rail transit district was formed and four years after voters passed a quarter-cent sales tax to fund the train.

“It's been a long road,” said Cloverdale Councilwoman Carol Russell, a director of the rail agency, Sonoma-Marin Area Regional Transit...

The agency has faced multiple challenges over the past four years, with a recession forcing SMART to scale back the initial line and delay the beginning of service...

SMART Chairwoman Valerie Brown, a Sonoma County supervisor, said the effort to repeal the sales tax, passed by 70 percent of Sonoma and Marin voters in November 2008, was the most troubling.

“That was absolutely a worry, that we had to be back on the ballot and fight it out again,” Brown said.The event also was attended by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena; state senators Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, and Mark Leno, D-San Francisco; and state assembly members Mike Allen, D-San Rafael; Wes Chesbro, D-Arcata; and Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael.

In the past two months, SMART has sold construction bonds and awarded a $103 million contract for the initial work to build the line and stations from Gureneville Road in Santa Rosa to the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael.

It is preparing to award another construction contract within the next few months to build between the Civic Center and downtown San Rafael.

Trains are scheduled to begin running on the initial line, 38.5 miles, in late 2014 or early 2015....

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120224/ARTICLES/120229730/1350?p=1&tc=pg