Does Gary Richards' answer to the grade separations question finally put
this issue to rest? We have been saying for a long time that each grade
separation is now priced at about $100 million. Richards, who certainly
knows more than I do, says from $100 million to $200 million. Those
numbers make grade separations in Menlo Park unlikely.

That would mean, among other things, that the present speed cap will
remain 79 mph. At that speed limit, electrification cannot gain more
than ten minutes of time -- maximum -- for the fastest run from San Jose
to San Francisco. Capital development costs for electrification will be
around $1 billion dollars. 1. Will Caltrain be able to raise such a
sum? 2. Even if they can, would it be worth it?
So, despite all the electrification talk at Caltrain, how likely is
that?

I feel better already.

Martin
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The Mercury News
Wednesday, February 14
Roadshow: Price tag daunting to make Caltrain tracks pedestrian-safe

By Gary Richards
Mercury News Staff Columnist

Q:LWith more loss of life on the Caltrain line Tuesday, I have to ask:
Why is it that there is still a place in the developed world where
pedestrians are allowed to walk across the tracks on a busy railway?
Pedestrian bridges and underpasses would eliminate most of these
tragedies. Are the taxpayers willing to foot the bill to build them, or
is life cheaper than a bridge? Eamonn Gormley

A:San Francisco: I wish it were that simple. There are around 80 street
crossings on the Caltrain tracks from Gilroy to San Francisco and the
cost to build an overpass or bridge is enormous -- anywhere from $100
million to $200 million per overpass. A pedestrian underpass will be
under construction next year at the California Avenue and downtown
stations in Palo Alto. An overpass is planned in San Bruno in four more
years, but finding the hundreds of millions to build more will be
difficult. The pedestrian death Tuesday in Mountain View was the second
this year and the 19th in the last 13 1/2 months.

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Martin Engel
1621 Stone Pine Lane
Menlo Park, CA 94025
650:323-1670
martinengel@earthlink.net
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