MEETING REPORT

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY RAIL COMMITTEE

Martinez, California
July 9, 2004

Reported by Russ Jackson

The Committee met under the chairmanship of Tulare County Supervisor Connie Conway. It now has a website, part of the California Division of Rail's page. To look at it, here is its address: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/rail/dorwebsite/sjvrc/sjvrchome.htm

Caltrans has published a "Destination Guide" for the San Joaquins in booklet form. It's concise and well designed. Pick up a copy at train stations along the route.

TRAIN SERVICE RESUMES ACROSS LEVEE BREAK AND FLOODING
AMTRAK'S FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN UNVEILED
STATE BUDGET DOES NOT CUT THE RAIL PROGRAM
FRESNO RAIL PROJECT WILL BE ON THE AGENDA IN SEPTEMBER

1. The levee break and flooding west of Stockton which occurred on June 4 disrupted San Joaquin schedules, causing up to five hour delays for some trains which had to be rerouted via the UP to Sacramento during the emergency. RailPAC Director, Anthony Lee, was on board the first train affected on June 4, and reported a two hour delay on his trip that day. The Committee heard from Mr. Rick Depler, BNSF's Asst. Director Passenger Train Operations from Ft. Worth that all trains are back running on the scheduled route with no more detours, however the railroad continues to pour riprap onto the levee and there is a 25mph speed restriction through the affected area. That will rise to 40 mph before the end of July. The BNSF sends a patrol vehicle along the line ahead of every Amtrak train, and ahead of every third freight train. When asked why freight trains started using the levee long before the passenger trains, Mr. Depler said they were "trying to keep the flow of traffic moving, and Amtrak has the highest priority." But it was "a safety issue," as they would "rather lose cars full of goods instead of cars full of people in case there was a problem." Caltrans Division of Rail's Bill Bronte told the Committee, and RailPAC concurs, that he felt the railroad made the right decision even though it cost ridership and lowered the On Time Performance for the trains to 22.8% for the month compared with 68.5% in June of 2003. Whether inconvenienced riders will return to the trains is a good question.
2. Amtrak Communications Director, Elizabeth O'Donoghue reported on Amtrak's newly released "Five-Year Strategic Plan" update, which introduces the concept of the three Tier "corridor readiness" status of the major rail corridors in the country. All three California corridors are included in Tier 1, meaning this state met all the criteria Amtrak has established to receive money, if the plan is adopted by Congress, for immediate development. This is a plan that will cost $2 billion for the five years, far less than previous requests, and is designed to work closely with the host freight railroads to improve the corridor infrastructure over which Amtrak operates. What Amtrak is asking for is equality in federal funding with other transportation modes, 80% federal to 20% local. California already qualifies in the 20% category, and has the 20-year Plan showing exactly what and where the money is needed. The goal will be to improve running time of corridor trains, like the San Joaquins to 5 hours 35 minutes Oakland-Bakersfield. However, the report does not contain much for the "national system" trains that also operate outside these corridors, and there are funds for only 20 cars and 6 locomotives per year to be "repaired." There is no money called for currently in the plan for new equipment, except for the Auto Train (they just bought 10 switch locomotives for the NEC) but as she told RailPAC, the national system portion of the plan is still being evaluated. That's too bad, as the report is out and follow-ups will not necessarily receive the same attention. Needless to say, if Amtrak receives this money the Northeast Corridor will get the far largest share.
3. Caltrans' Bill Bronte reported on the status of the state budget and of rail construction projects underway. Needless to say, the state budget is foremost on the minds of the locally elected officials who are members of the SJVRC at this time. For rail, as of this date the $73 million is still untouched for next year. The State's transportation improvement fund will be tapped in August by the California Transportation Commission for $60 million to continue already approved projects. The Governor has indicated that revenue from the deals he has been making with the Indian gaming tribes will largely be earmarked for transportation projects as identified by the Congestion Relief program. Already funded are the $29.4 million upgrade on the BNSF between Oakley and Port Chicago, which will begin this year and is under contract with the railroad. Other projects may be delayed, however, such as Stockton to Escalon double tracking which is now deemed not as necessary as it was originally thought because few trains meet there under the six train schedule. Caltrans has received a grant from the federal Department of Home Security which will put "wi-fi" computer access on all the state trains to increase communication and allow on-board ticketing. Streaming video will also be installed on the trains to monitor potential problems.
4. Another project was brought up that is likely to be contested by the Fresno area. In the state's 20-Year rail construction plan is a $31.9 million project (#SJ-09) with immediate importance attached, meaning highest priority, to build a five-mile second track on the BNSF through the residential area of the City of Fresno. While the Committee approved the Plan when it was adopted, this sub-plan is now raising questions in Fresno. If built, this project could spell the end of the plans to consolidate all rail on the Union Pacific corridor west of the city. The Committee will hear a full report of this construction plan at its September 10 meeting in Stockton.