This is what Menlo Park is up against in its efforts to obtain
Caltrain scheduling changes. Also, Caltrain's claim about
electrification saving $10 million in diesel fuel costs annually
needs to be off-set by the more than $1 billion costs for converting
to electrification. (I also puzzle at the contention that petroleum
costs keep going up yet electric costs never enter the discussion.
When oil hits $100 per barrel, what do they think electric costs will
be doing?)

Martin
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Caltrain faces steep deficit

May 3, 2007 3:00 AM (6 hrs ago)
by Edward Carpenter

San Carlos, Calif. - Despite having slashed nearly $2 million since
February from Caltrain's projected deficit for the fiscal year
beginning July 1, board members will still face a $3.7 million gap at
today's meeting.

The commuter train agency will have to make some difficult decisions
in order to balance the budget, spokesman Jonah Weinberg said.

In past years, Caltrain has called on reserves or used one-time
federal or state monies to help it close deficits. But with those
options nearly tapped out, board members may have little choice but
to increase the amount San Mateo, Santa Clara and San Francisco
counties contribute to Caltrain, agency board member and county
supervisor Jerry Hill said.

Under the current agreement, San Mateo County pays about $16 million;
Santa Clara pays $15 million; and San Francisco pays $6.8 million
toward train operations each year, according to Caltrain.

With parking fees already increased last October and train fares
raised at the beginning of April, the Caltrain board is running out
of opportunities, Hill said.

A plan to expand express service by adding a sixth passenger car to
Baby Bullet trains, the equivalent to about 800 seats per hour, by
2009 could also bring in revenue, Weinberg said.

An even better solution, but one that may have to wait until 2014, is
electrification of Caltrain, Weinberg said. Not only could electric
trains accommodate more riders, but they would save about $10 million
in fuel costs annually.

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