To members of the Menlo Park City Council,

I am a resident of Menlo Park, living at 13 Greenwood Place. I would like
to express my perspective regarding your upcoming discussion of the
Dumbarton Rail Corridor Project. I believe public transportation is a great
benefit to society if it is enacted in a useful and fiscally responsible
way. Otherwise, it can become government waste on a massive scale. I do
not believe that the citizenry has been provided with adequate information
to make the determination one way or the other on this project. There are
several key, unanswered questions that I believe the Menlo Park City Council
should require answers to prior to endorsing this project.

1. What are the current, accurate cost and rider ship projection numbers?
Recently, we have seen that the projected cost of the project has increased
from $300 million to $600 million. Mysteriously, rider ship projections
doubled simultaneously. Are we playing games or has the data really changed
to warrant those projections. We need answers!

2. The project summary lists freight train traffic along the line at zero
and yet, the line and the bridge are being constructed to bear the weight of
freight trains. We need SamTrans to be honest and forthcoming so that we
can understand their intentions. If freight trains will also use the line,
that traffic must also be included in the analysis and environmental
research report.

3. No mitigation expenses including sound walls and grade separations are in
the current budget. What is the true cost of the project and who will be
left to bear those expenses if they are ignored by SamTrans?

4. Does this project make fiscal sense. There are lots of good ways to
spend Measure 2 funds that could reduce the impact of traffic on the
Peninsula. Are we spending this hefty amount of public money effectively?
Is the cost per rider of this project with in acceptable guidelines.

I respectfully request that city council members hold the DRC to an
appropriate standard of honesty and forthcoming information. If we are
going to spend this much money, lets make sure we are buying an effective
transportation option and not wasting millions of dollars that could be
better spent.

Thanks for your consideration.

Teri O'Neel
13 Greenwood Place
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Received on Mon May 21 23:50:00 2007