Caltrain Board Adopts Updated MOU with High Speed Rail

By

March 7, 2013

The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board today unanimously adopted an updated Memorandum of Understanding with the California High Speed Rail Authority.  The agreement lays the foundation for modernizing the Caltrain system through an early investment in the Peninsula corridor and the eventual creation of a blended system that would allow High Speed Rail to operate between San Jose and San Francisco.

The MOU specifically addresses project investments that include $705 million provided by Senate Bill 1029 to upgrade existing rail lines and improve train performance through electrification of the Caltrain corridor, installation of an advanced signal system and the purchase of new electrified rail vehicles.  The Caltrain Modernization Program will provide more service to more people at more stations while also reducing the system’s greenhouse gas emissions by more than90 percent, reducing the subsidy required to operate Caltrain service and taking more cars off the region’s roads.

The updated MOU is particularly important to the communities along the rail corridor because it reflects many months of work between Caltrain staff and community members in identifying and addressing the major areas of concern with High Speed Rail. 

“This agreement is particularly meaningful because it ensures local interests and concerns are well represented,” said JPB Board Chair Ken Yeager.  “The removal of the four-track system from this MOU, the confirmation of JPB’s ownership and authority over decision-making on its corridor, and the commitment to corridor electrification is compatible with the needs of the blended system.”

The agreement has the widespread support of state and local elected officials, business and civic organizations, labor organizations, environmental groups and transit advocates.

Caltrain expects the High Speed Rail Authority to approve the MOU at its April board meeting.  The High Speed Rail Authority has been directly involved in the preparation of the MOU and has been consistently supportive of the blended system approach. The Authority included the blended system in the business plan and nine-party regional MOU the Authority passed earlier this year.

“We are very pleased that Caltrain and High Speed Rail are updating their agreement with support for the blended system,” said Adina Levin, co-founder of Friends of Caltrain.   “We expect that this MOU will launch the close collaboration that will be needed to design, fund, and operate a blended system that supports our San Francisco Peninsula community transit needs and long distance travel for the state.”

The MOU is also enjoying widespread support from elected officials, business and community leaders throughout the region, who are acknowledging the important role this agreement will have in the modernizing the corridor and connecting High Speed Rail service to San Francisco.

Caltrain modernization is expected to be completed by 2019.  Caltrain will finalize the Electrification Environmental Impact Report over the next 18 months.  An EIR for the advance signal system has already been approved.  Work is expected to begin on that project later this year, with electrification work beginning in 2015.

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About Caltrain:   Owned and operated by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, Caltrain provides commuter rail service from San Francisco to San Jose, with limited commute service to Gilroy. Caltrain has enjoyed 28 consecutive months of ridership increases, surpassing more than 50,000 average weekday riders earlier this year. While the Joint Powers Board assumed operating responsibilities for the service in 1992, the railroad will celebrate 150 years of continuous passenger service in 2014. Planning for the next 150 years of Peninsula rail service, Caltrain is on pace to electrify the corridor by 2019, reducing diesel emissions by 90 percent and adding more service to more stations. 

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