Month: March 2010

  • Steel Wheels in California 2010: The Countdown is On!

    The countdown is on for Steel Wheels in California© 2010. April 17 is the date for what we believe will be our most informative and thought provoking conference and members meeting to date. RailPAC and NARP members and guests will meet at the Metro Board Room, One Gateway center at Los Angeles Union Station for…

  • Metro/OCTA to CAHSRA: LA-Anaheim should be revisited

    Arthur T. Leahy (CEO, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation) and Will Kempton (CEO, Orange County Transportation Authority) write to Curt Pringle (Chairman, California High Speed Rail Authority) asking CAHSPA to revisit the concept of a rational shared use option in the Anaheim to Los Angeles segment. Click here to read the letter.

  • February California Intercity Passenger Rail Performance

    February California Intercity Passenger Rail Performance

    Reported by David B. Kutrosky, Managing Director, CCJPA Ridership for the Capitol Corridor in February 2010 continued to decline compared to February 2009 and 2008, but the monthly loss was less than prior month comparisons. Ridership for February 2010 was down by 4.7% and while the service was impacted by the second phase of the tie renewal program (February…

  • There is Plenty of Traffic on the Weekends

    Editorial by Noel T. Braymer Recently I was watching on a local access cable TV channel a discussion about plans to add 4 more lanes between Del Mar and Oceanside on the I-5 Freeway. The panel had representatives from Caltrans and SANDAG the planning agency for San Diego County. These 4 new lanes would be…

  • San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee Meeting Report

    February 11, 2010 Meeting Reported by Michael Barnbaum, Associate Director The San Joaquin Valley Rail Committee met February 11th and for the first time since October of 2009. The meeting took place inside the Castle Conference Center in Atwater. A special stop located at a railroad crossing directly across the street from the Castle Conference…

  • Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Board Meeting Report

    February 17, 2010 Meeting Reported by Michael Barnbaum, Associate Director The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Board met for the first time in 2010 and for the first time under Managing Director David Kutrosky. Chair Jim Holmes representing the Placer County Transportation Planning Agency called the meeting to order. He reported on the legislative meeting that…

  • Is CA HSR on Track for Successful Implementation?

    A small shift in priorities could produce major benefits sooner and help build public support. Commentary by Ralph James, RailPAC Member, Alta, Blue Canyon CA NOTE: This article also appears in a shorter version in the March Western Rail Passenger Review. Prioritizing the order of expenditure on public projects which may span many years can…

  • CRCC Technical Committee Meeting Report

    February 26, 2010 Meeting Reported by Dennis Story, RailPAC Director The Coast Rail Coordinating Council Technical Committee meeting was held at the Derby Club, Seaside Park in Ventura on Friday, 2/26/10 from 11:00AM to 12:30PM. Attendees: Pete Rodgers (SLOCOG), Bill Bronte (Caltrans Rail Division), Jonathan Hutchison (phone), Mike Powers (SBCAG), Scott Spaulding (SBCAG), Vic Kamhi (VCTC),…

  • Tracking Rail News . . . for March 2010

    PHOTOS and Comments by Russ Jackson . . . Amtrak Western On Time Performance. On February 19, Train #1, the Sunset Limited arrived at Los Angeles Union Station at 8:20 AM. Nothing remarkable about that since its due at 8:40, but as crew members will tell you they consider that arrival time as being late…

  • TAMC Rail Policy Committee Meeting Report

    February 1, 2010 Meeting Reported by Chris Flescher, Associate Director