MEETING REPORT

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY RAIL COMMITTEE

Fresno, California
March 12, 2004

Reported by Russ Jackson

Committee Tables Motion On High Speed Rail
New Chairman And Vice Chairman Elected
BNSF Reports To The Committee
Caltrans Focus Will Be On Softer Projects
New Menus On The Trains
Fresno Station Groundbreaking Will Be March 23
Extension Of Two San Joaquins To Davis Under Consideration

This Is The 30^th Anniversary Of The San Joaquins. Art Lloyd pointed out that the first San Joaquin train under Amtrak started March 6, 1974. Eric Schatmeier reported that Caltrans will sponsor special anniversary promotions on March 29 on board the trains, where they will hand out souvenir materials.

1. When Train 712 arrived at the Fresno Amtrak station we found a group of people carrying stuffed bobcats, a coyote and a brown bear. They were surrounded by the Fresno radio, TV, and print media. It was a group called, "Transportation involves Everyone," led by Michael Kiesling, who were headed to the SJVRC meeting to state their position regarding the Committee's motion in support of High Speed Rail. That motion had been in the works for many months, and was scheduled for adoption that day. However, TIE's presentation turned into a condemnation of the CHSRA's eliminating study of Altamont Pass as the preferred route into the Bay Area despite SJVRC Chairman Rick Norris's admonition that the committee's motion was an endorsement of the CONCEPT of high speed rail, not an endorsement of the CHSRA's plan. TIE quickly ignored that and launched into their presentation. A look at the last two paragraphs of the Committee's proposed motion actually looked like an endorsement of the scheduled 2004 bond issue, which could be interpreted as endorsing the CHSRA's plan and route. I, representing myself, not necessarily RailPAC, spoke arguing that to approve the motion as written would be headlined that way. After much discussion, the Committee voted to table it for rewriting to better explain what they were really endorsing. On Saturday the Fresno Bee's report agreed that, "A stamp of approval from the Valley committee, which usually focuses on Amtrak issues, would help bond supporters rally votes. The committee will craft a new resolution supporting the high-speed concept and bond funding but backing away from the current measure." That is the accurate view of what transpired. To show how Internet stories can be a little less accurate, a HSR gadfly headlined his forward of the Bee's story, "San Joaquin Valley Rail panel backs Altamont HSR." That did NOT happen. While it could happen in the future, it did not happen on Friday. This all underscores the debate over the CHSRA and its EIR that is tearing the state apart, despite near unanimous support for the concept of High Speed Rail to be built in California. The "devil is in the details," and right now there are four bills in the legislature to move the bond issue off the November 2004 ballot: 2 to 2006, 1 to 2010, and 1 to eliminate it altogether as proposed by Senator McClintock.
2. When the Committee returned to dealing with current Corridor issues, the first item was the election of a new Chairman and Vice Chairman for the next year. Supervisor Connie Conway, Tulare County, was promoted to Chairman and Supervisor Bob Waterston, Fresno County, is the new Vice Chairman. A resolution of appreciation for outgoing Chairman Norris, Los Angeles County, was passed. The Committee welcomed Stacey Mortensen of the San Joaquin County Rail Committee and ACE as the new representative from that county, which has not been represented since Bill Scholz died.
3. Mr. D. J. Mitchell from the BNSF in Ft. Worth made his regular presentation outlining the railroad's progress in cooperating with the San Joaquin trains. While On Time Performance has been a problem this winter, the first figures from March show 90% for trains moving within the BNSF territory (south of Port Chicago), which is a welcome improvement. BNSF senior management is now on duty at the San Bernardino dispatch facility 24/7 to handle decisions. A passenger operations group has been formed which analyzes situations and communicates to the dispatchers. Mitchell says their management takes seriously its responsibility to run passenger trains on time, and thereby earn incentive dollars from Amtrak. They will "tighten up slow order management," to see that slow orders are not in effect any longer than necessary. Their agreement with the UP to divert 8 freight trains to the UP line in the Valley is almost finished. This will be done at no cost to the public, and adds capacity to the passenger line. On train 712 Art Lloyd counted 14 freight trains on the BNSF before we arrived in Fresno, and there were 8 seen on our northbound 715 later that day. Chairman Norris reported that the BNSF agrees with the plan to extend a San Joaquin over the Tehachapis to Los Angeles, but negotiations with the UP are stalled.
4. Caltrans reported the double track project from Calwa to Bowles will open in the Fall, 2004, and Shirley to Hanford will open in Spring, 2005. Both of these are projects that were fully funded by the state prior to the budget crunch. It is anticipated that 5 minutes will come out of the schedules when these projects are done. The big Stockton to Escalon double track project did not get funded. All these projects are done as a partnership between Caltrans and the BNSF; Amtrak does not now contribute a dime to capital projects, but pays an "access" charge of approximately $1 per mile. Warren Weber, the head of the Caltrans Rail Program, told the Committee that because of no increase in state funding there will be no new capital projects adopted, instead they will concentrate on "softer" projects, like interline agreements. Caltrans' Bill Bronte agreed there will be no more dollars, but no less dollars, at least until the Governor's May Revised budget comes out. Tyrone Bland, Amtrak's Western Director, Governmental Affairs, reported on the progress of Amtrak's national financial situation regarding the Bush Administrations' $900 Billion proposal and the stated $1.8 Billion Amtrak says it needs to keep going. Amtrak is confident they will be able to get more from the Congress, as many Republicans now support Amtrak.
5. New Menus were effective March 9 on the three corridors supported by Caltrans. The "Chef Mario's Favorites," available only on the San Joaquins, now have six meals available. Those who chose one on 712/715 that day were totally satisfied. There were lines waiting in Cafe Car for food and beverage service. The hot dog continues to be tasty, even with the microwaved bun being somewhat gummy. The trains did not run out of food on either train, but several items were gone at the end of the trip, showing excellent inventory predicting.
6. The long delayed groundbreaking ceremony for rebuilding the Fresno train station will be at 10:00 AM on March 23. Work has already begun. Photos of the Fresno facility will be printed on the next issue of the Western Rail Passenger Review, due out in the next two weeks.
7. The proposal at Caltrans to extend to Davis the two San Joaquins that now terminate at Sacramento for layover is under development. One train would have to remain overnight, the other for only a few hours in the mid-afternoon. A capacity model is under way with the Union Pacific, and Amtrak has been asked for a cost analysis. It is believed this could be done for a low price, and extend the usefulness of the two trainsets that now sit in Sacramento doing nothing. A major consideration, however, is whether this would count against the Capitol Corridor's allotment of "slots" on the Corridor.