Press Releases

For Immediate Release

Public Proposes Bold Rail Concepts at Initial Bay Area Regional Rail Workshop

Seven More Meetings Planned in November and December
Meetings Added in San Carlos and Santa Rosa

Contact:

Catalina Alvarado, 510.817.5783
Patrick Hannan, 510.817.5739

OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 30, 2005…A new rail line across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, elevated downtown trains and high-speed freight service from Oakland to Tracy were just a few of the ideas proposed at the first Bay Area Regional Rail Plan workshop held yesterday at the MetroCenter in Oakland. Additional public proposals are expected at other meetings being held over the next two weeks, including tonight in San Jose and tomorrow in San Francisco.

Approximately 120 people braved the rain to share their vision for a regional rail network in the Bay Area. Perspectives varied widely on a number of rail concepts, with some people urging a direct high-speed rail connection between San Francisco and Los Angeles and others advocating for a Central Valley route ending in Oakland. BART expansion to the outer suburbs topped the list of some participants, but still others wanted better rail service between dense urban areas, including rail lines across the Bay. Still others suggested replacing trains with dedicated express buses.

Each rail proposal will be evaluated for technical merit, economic feasibility and environmental impact.

“The regional rail plan is a blueprint for the next 50 years. We want to use the public’s knowledge of their own communities to create the best possible plan for the entire region,” said Doug Kimsey, planning director for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. “Tuesday’s meeting demonstrated that public is a willing and engaged partner in this effort.”

Hosted by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), BART, the California High Speed Rail Authority and Caltrain, the workshops are the first step in developing the Regional Rail Plan – a comprehensive blueprint to improve and extend passenger railroad, rapid transit and high-speed rail service over the next 50 years.

Tuesday’s workshop was the first of eight rail meetings being held around the Bay Area and in the Central Valley (see below for a complete list). For more information please visit: http://bayarearailplan.info.

Remaining Bay Area Regional Rail Plan Community Meetings

Workshops – Note: To foster community participation, each workshop will feature two identical sessions – afternoon and evening.  Choose the time that is most convenient.

• Wednesday, November 30 – San Jose
  3-5 p.m. – First Session, 6-8 p.m. – Second Session
  New San Jose City Hall – Council Wing, Community Room W120
  200 East Santa Clara Street, San Jose

• Thursday, December 1 – San Francisco
  3-5 p.m. – First Session, 6-8 p.m. – Second Session
  Hiram Johnson State Building, Auditorium
  455 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco

• Monday, December 5 – Livermore
  3-5 p.m. – First Session, 6-8 p.m. – Second Session
  Public Library, Community Room A & B
  1188 S. Livermore Avenue, Livermore

• Tuesday, December 6 – Modesto
  3-5 p.m. – First Session, 6-8 p.m. – Second Session
  Double Tree Hotel, Ballrooms 1, 2 & 3
  1150 Ninth Street, Modesto

• Thursday, December 8 – Suisun City
  3-5 p.m. – First Session, 6-8 p.m. – Second Session
  Suisun City Hall, Council Chambers
  701 Civic Center Boulevard, Suisun City
  

Presentations

• Thursday, December 8 – San Carlos
  6 p.m. – Open House, 7 p.m. – Presentation
  City and County Association of Governments of San Mateo County
  San Mateo County Transit District Office
  1250 San Carlos Avenue, Second Floor Auditorium, San Carlos

• Monday, December 12 – Santa Rosa
  3 p.m. – Presentation
  Sonoma County Transportation Authority – Board of Directors
  Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management Department
  Planning Commission Hearing Room, 2550 Ventura Avenue, Santa Rosa

 

MTC is the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area’s transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency.

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