These are some of TRAC's recent activities and news bulletins:
11/16/2005: Press Release - SEC. MINETA: IF YOU BREAK AMTRAK, YOU OWN THE PROBLEM
6/15/2005: Letter - Transbay Terminal Project Threatened
April 2005: Exposition L.A. to Culver City Light Rail Project
3/9/2005: Sunset Limited - Schedule Change
9/25/2004: Letter re Transbay Terminal/Caltrain Downtown Extension
R.M. #2
On March 2, 2004 the voters of the Bay Area approved a regional measure authorizing a $1 increase in bridge tolls and allocating the new funds generated to deserving public transit projects including a number of excellent rail projects. TRAC worked with legislators and other groups in strong support of this measure.
Oakland Light Rail Line
BART recently completed a study which concluded that the best way of linking Jack London Square and the Amtrak terminal with Chinatown, Old Oakland and the rest of downtown Oakland was by means of a light rail "starter line" from the Square to City Hall. So far Oakland's government fails to see or understand the potential of this line; however there is hope. TRAC will continue to monitor and, where practical, support passenger rail progress in Oakland.
ACE
Despite operating limitations stemming mainly from its inherently deficient alignment, ACE has made remarkable progress in upgrading its rail services and, as a consequence, has attracted a loyal and steadily increasing ridership. Our hats are off to this small but industrious and innovative agency. TRAC will continue to strongly support improvements to the ACE service.
Caltrain Upgrade
Caltrain too has made enormous progress in speeding up and otherwise upgrading its rail service. One can now travel between San Francisco and San Jose and points in between comfortably and expeditiously by train, thereby avoiding the grueling experiences endured by Peninsula auto-commuters. TRAC has consistently supported Caltrain and SanTrans in their continuing efforts to improve their services.
BART-to-San Jose Extension
The idea of extending BART from Fremont into low density Santa Clara County would have made sense at $500 million. However the project is projected to cost over $6 billion. If allowed to proceed this project would rank as one of the worst misallocations of public transit dollars of all times. Wasteful transit proposals like this one do nothing but add credence to the even more wasteful automobile lobby whose activities are both sapping the economic vitality of the country and severely damaging its environment. TRAC opposes the BART-to-San Jose extension.
Santa Cruz Light Rail Line
The line would allow weekend visitors and vacationers to reach the Santa Cruz beach and Boardwalk without clogging Santa Cruz's city streets in the process. Moreover the line, running along the scenic Santa Cruz coastline, would serve Watsonville, Rio del Mar, Aptos, Sea Cliff, Cabrillo College, Capitola, Santa Cruz, U.C. Santa Cruz, and Davenport, as well as connect ing to the Big Trees Excursion Train. There is currently a dispute between those devoted to building the line and others who want to acquire the rail right of way for other purposes. TRAC is in support of acquiring the right-of-way with guarantees that it will be used for passenger rail purposes.
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