Meeting Report and Commentary

CAPITOL CORRIDOR JPA Meeting Report

Suisun City Hall, 16 November 2005

Reported by Russ Jackson

As with all other rail advocacy and rail agency meetings these days, a primary discussion item was the Amtrak firing of CEO David Gunn. While these agencies will not take official stands on such an item, there is general concern for the future of Amtrak and its relationship with the CCJPA as well as other California rail corridors.

The meeting opened with the report by the Chair, Roger Dickinson, a Sacramento City Councilman who is active on many transportation committees. He spoke of the "controversial" Gunn firing, the bipartisan criticism of it, and the possible need for legislation to address deficiencies in the Amtrak board. He expressed concern for the potential impact on the CCJPA of possible selling of the Northeast Corridor. He said the CCJPA's contract with Amtrak runs through next July. As for local items, Mr. Dickinson saluted the "incredible performance of the Capitols. We keep pushing it to the limits, up and up." And, he lauded the great award-winning marketing efforts of the staff.
There were six "Action" items on the agenda and five passed. An Oakland-San Jose track improvement project funding plan involving swapping funds with Solano County, a revised project plan for the Benicia siding/Bahia viaduct project, an authorization for the CCJPA Executive Director to enter into the track relocation agreement for the Sacramento yard and depot, and a Legislative update containing no new items were approved. Held over to the next meeting was an item laying out principles for a revised CCJPA policy on station and train service. Several members spoke of the "parking" requirement for new stations as not being needed. A healthy discussion ensued and it will be reconsidered. One "Action" item needs more space and is next:
Approval of Capitol Corridor train service to the planned (no longer just proposed) Fairfield/Vacaville station was passed. A presentation by Solano County showed detailed plans that have been largely agreed to with all agencies, including the Union Pacific, to construct this new station at a rapidly growing location where Peabody Road crosses the tracks at the Fairfield-Vacaville border. This station, now targeted to open in 2010, is anticipated to have upward of 500 daily riders from a fast growing area under new development nearby in both cities, and from the adjacent Travis AFB, no longer a target for closing, which is moving all housing off the base into the surrounding communities. An "island" type platform, a pedestrian under-crossing, a parking plan, and many other elements have been approved by the differing agencies including a plan for a future parking garage. Marketing coordination with the nearby Western Rail Museum in Rio Vista is a sample of the planning at this stage. Funding has been largely secured for the $29.996 million project.
As usual there was nothing but good news regarding ridership and revenue. With now 1,360,249 riders on 24 trains in FY 04-05, $15.27 million in revenue, 85% on time delivery, and the farebox recovery ratio increased 10% to 43%. Managing Director Gene Skoropowski pointed out that seven years ago, with 8 daily trains, the ridership was 463,000, the revenue was $6.25 milllion and the farebox recovery (now called "Revenue-to-Cost ratio") was 29%. Gene also reported that the work between Fremont and Oakland is well under way and the entire main line from Oakland to San Jose will be significantly improved to "like new" condition, resulting in more reliable service, reduced running time and a better ride quality along the entire route. The cost of this project is "mostly borne by Union Pacific, with significant contributions by ACE and the CCJPA." And, "while we have continued to pursue the extension of four trains to/from Roseville, and two to/from the other Placer County stations, the freight congestion problems in and around Roseville Yard has caused UP senior management to inform us that they are unable to accommodate any additional Capitols east of Sacramento for the foreseeable future." The staff will continue to work with the UP, and Placer County elected officials intend to visit UP HQ in Omaha to convey the importance of added service. A new station at Hercules, west of Martinez, is being designed and financing plans developed.

A sample of a Capitol Corridor promotion piece, "What's New?" is placed at the end of this report.

Much banter between UC Berkeley, Stanford, and CSU Sacramento fans on the board was heard throughout the meeting, adding a light tone at times. The next CCJPA meeting will be at 10:00 February 15, 2006, at the new Sacramento City Hall.


RailPAC Contacts Publications Issues Meeting Reports 2005 Reports 2005-11-16 Capitol 2005-11-10 San Joaquin 2005-11 Announcement 2005-10-24 Bay Area 2005-09-21 Capitol 2005-09-14 LOSSAN 2005-09 Coast and TAMC 2005-09-08 San Joaquin 2005-07-14 San Joaquin 2005-07-11 TAMC 2005-06-25 CASHRA 2005-06-16 LOSSAN 2005-06-15 Capitol 2005-05-30 TAMC 2005-05-12 San Joaquin 2005-04-27 Coast Rail 2005-04-19 LOS-SAN 2005-03-11 San Joaquin 2005-02-16 Capitol 2005 Annual 2005-01 San Joaquin 2005-01 Monterey Membership Links	Meeting Report and Commentary CAPITOL CORRIDOR JPA Meeting Report Suisun City Hall, 16 November 2005 Reported by Russ Jackson As with all other rail advocacy and rail agency meetings these days, a primary discussion item was the Amtrak firing of CEO David Gunn. While these agencies will not take official stands on such an item, there is general concern for the future of Amtrak and its relationship with the CCJPA as well as other California rail corridors. The meeting opened with the report by the Chair, Roger Dickinson, a Sacramento City Councilman who is active on many transportation committees. He spoke of the "controversial" Gunn firing, the bipartisan criticism of it, and the possible need for legislation to address deficiencies in the Amtrak board. He expressed concern for the potential impact on the CCJPA of possible selling of the Northeast Corridor. He said the CCJPA's contract with Amtrak runs through next July. As for local items, Mr. Dickinson saluted the "incredible performance of the Capitols. We keep pushing it to the limits, up and up." And, he lauded the great award-winning marketing efforts of the staff. There were six "Action" items on the agenda and five passed. An Oakland-San Jose track improvement project funding plan involving swapping funds with Solano County, a revised project plan for the Benicia siding/Bahia viaduct project, an authorization for the CCJPA Executive Director to enter into the track relocation agreement for the Sacramento yard and depot, and a Legislative update containing no new items were approved. Held over to the next meeting was an item laying out principles for a revised CCJPA policy on station and train service. Several members spoke of the "parking" requirement for new stations as not being needed. A healthy discussion ensued and it will be reconsidered. One "Action" item needs more space and is next: Approval of Capitol Corridor train service to the planned (no longer just proposed) Fairfield/Vacaville station was passed. A presentation by Solano County showed detailed plans that have been largely agreed to with all agencies, including the Union Pacific, to construct this new station at a rapidly growing location where Peabody Road crosses the tracks at the Fairfield-Vacaville border. This station, now targeted to open in 2010, is anticipated to have upward of 500 daily riders from a fast growing area under new development nearby in both cities, and from the adjacent Travis AFB, no longer a target for closing, which is moving all housing off the base into the surrounding communities. An "island" type platform, a pedestrian under-crossing, a parking plan, and many other elements have been approved by the differing agencies including a plan for a future parking garage. Marketing coordination with the nearby Western Rail Museum in Rio Vista is a sample of the planning at this stage. Funding has been largely secured for the $29.996 million project. As usual there was nothing but good news regarding ridership and revenue. With now 1,360,249 riders on 24 trains in FY 04-05, $15.27 million in revenue, 85% on time delivery, and the farebox recovery ratio increased 10% to 43%. Managing Director Gene Skoropowski pointed out that seven years ago, with 8 daily trains, the ridership was 463,000, the revenue was $6.25 milllion and the farebox recovery (now called "Revenue-to-Cost ratio") was 29%. Gene also reported that the work between Fremont and Oakland is well under way and the entire main line from Oakland to San Jose will be significantly improved to "like new" condition, resulting in more reliable service, reduced running time and a better ride quality along the entire route. The cost of this project is "mostly borne by Union Pacific, with significant contributions by ACE and the CCJPA." And, "while we have continued to pursue the extension of four trains to/from Roseville, and two to/from the other Placer County stations, the freight congestion problems in and around Roseville Yard has caused UP senior management to inform us that they are unable to accommodate any additional Capitols east of Sacramento for the foreseeable future." The staff will continue to work with the UP, and Placer County elected officials intend to visit UP HQ in Omaha to convey the importance of added service. A new station at Hercules, west of Martinez, is being designed and financing plans developed. A sample of a Capitol Corridor promotion piece, "What's New?" is placed at the end of this report. Much banter between UC Berkeley, Stanford, and CSU Sacramento fans on the board was heard throughout the meeting, adding a light tone at times. The next CCJPA meeting will be at 10:00 February 15, 2006, at the new Sacramento City Hall.
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