Do you know about this plan? It supports our argument that Caltrain
is eager to stop being merely a local train and become a regional
commuter carrier competing with BART for Bay Area dominance as the
default rail line. Dumbarton is merely another Caltrain tentacle.

I would say it's a good idea except it ought to be BART. That is to
say, if no rail system were to exist in the Bay Area, a better
conceived BART would be the best at providing the main "armature" on
which to hang all the other components of a comprehensive Bay Area
wide transit system. Ever more heavy-rail, freight-compatible
Caltrain is a poor basis for a commuter transit system. (Yes, I know
I'm not being realistic.)

But, what's happening now is nothing short of competitive empire
building. All the operators are conducting endless studies and
reports outlining their "strategic" expansion plans, waiting for the
magic funding to pour out of the high speed train pork barrel. Yet,
the one thing that will seriously improve transit for all of us --
they all sit down together and create a unified regional network --
is not about to take place. Pity.

Martin

  Plans for CalTrain Coming to Salinas Gets Approved by City Council
October 5 2007 -
<http://www.kcba.com/mostpopular/story.aspx?content_id=e308ae54-44f4-4051-a9b3-63299569515d>FOX
35 (Salinas, CA)

Plans for CalTrain Coming to Salinas Gets Approved by City Council

Last Update: 10/04 11:33 am

10/04/07

CENTRAL COAST, Calif.- CalTrain connects Gilroy to the rest of the
bay area and now there are plans for the train to head further south.
The Expansion Plan Project will cost over a hundred million dollar to
the city of Pajaro, Castroville, and Salinas, where the project`s
gotten a big boost from their city council.

Salinas has approved designs for a new train station to be built in
the city that would sit where the Amtrak station is on Market Street.

While construction could begin by 2009, many local business owners do
not like the idea of a growing transit station. Many local owners,
that have had their business open for generations, will have to shut
their doors due to the expansion.

With the first train expected in 2011, officials estimate about two
thousand people will ride every day, bringing new and more people
into Salinas.

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