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Construction Groundbreaking Ceremony A comprehensive $88 million program of improvements for additional Capitol Corridor trains to San Jose, financed courtesy of the Governor's Traffic Congestion Relief Program, California Department of Transportation, and local city funds
Friday, September 27, 2002
KEYNOTE:
Press Release
ADVISORY/Groundbreaking Ceremony to
Commemorate $88 Million in Track and Station
Improvements to Support Additional Capitol
Corridor Trains Between Oakland and San Jose
WHAT: A groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate $88
million in track and station improvements to support additional
Capitol Corridor trains between Oakland and San Jose
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- WHEN/WHERE: Friday, September 27, 2002 at 2:08 p.m. (upon arrival of Capitol Corridor Train 537) Oakland Amtrak Station, Jack London Square, Embarcadero at Alice St. WHO: State, local and railroad officials, including:
BACKGROUND: The construction project will span 45 miles and include added tracks and upgraded infrastructure along the Capitol Corridor between Oakland and San Jose, plus a future Capitol Corridor Station at the Oakland Coliseum, as well as added parking and access improvements at the existing Fremont, Great America/Santa Clara, and Emeryville stations. BENEFITS:
FUNDING: This program is financed through the Governor's Traffic Congestion Relief Program (TCRP), California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and funds from local cities and communities.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Media coverage of the ceremony to begin the construction project is encouraged. Some of the speakers will arrive in Oakland from Sacramento aboard Capitol Corridor Train 537 (departs Sacramento at 12:10 p.m., arrives Oakland at 2:08 p.m.) Members of the media are invited to ride the train to Oakland if their schedule permits.
Note: Ray Burns of TrainWeb rode this train and attended the event. WEBSITE: www.amtrakcapitols.com Source: Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority
San Jose and Oakland Rail Passengers to Benefit From $88 Million Improvements
Sacramento The project calls for upgrading rail lines between Oakland and San Jose and improving the Emeryville station. It also improves connectivity with the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and the Alameda Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit). In addition, a new station will be built adjacent to the Coliseum BART station to provide improved intermodal access to BART and the Oakland Airport. The Capitol Corridor service is the third busiest rail line in America. Funding for the project includes $23 million from the Governor's historic $5.3 billion Traffic Congestion Relief Program (TCRP), which is designed to improve mobility throughout California. The Capitol Corridor project is part of Governor Davis' transportation program that will provide more trains and faster service for passengers. Earlier this summer, the Governor inaugurated work on the $128 million in Caltrain Express, dubbed the "Baby Bullet," which also was partially financed through the TCRP. The train is expected to speed travelers between San Jose and San Francisco in record time and also relieve traffic congestion. The Capitol Corridor passenger service started in December 1991. Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority The CCJPA is comprised of six (6) rail transit or transportation agencies with responsibility for transportation along the eight county Capitol Corridor Service area:
The elected officials of the six member transportation agencies within the Capitol Corridor represent the governing board of the CCJPA. As administrator of the Service, the CCJPA's primary focus is the continuous improvement of the Capitol Corridor Service through cost management, revenue enhancement and customer service to deliver safe, reliable, frequent, high-quality passenger rail service that is a viable transportation alternative to the congested I-80 and I-880 highway corridors. The Capitol Corridor Service began in December 1991 with three daily round trip trains between San Jose and Sacramento. The CCJPA, since assuming management responsibility in October 1998, has and will continue to expand the Capitol Corridor Service. Beginning in October 1998, utilizing four (4) trainsets, service was increased to five (5) daily round trips; in February 1999 service increased again to six (6) daily round trips; in February 2000 service was increased to seven (7) daily round trips. In April 2001 service was increased to nine (9) daily round-trip trains by obtaining two additional State-owned trainsets for the Northern California pool (Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin Services). Even with a flat state budget allocation, the CCJPA has reviewed unproductive services and reallocated existing funds to permit addition of a 10th frequency on weekdays between Oakland and Sacramento starting on October 27, 2002
Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority $88 million in Improvements for Capitol Corridor Service OAKLAND, Calif. - An $88 million program to improve track and stations for additional Capitol Corridors train service between Oakland and San Jose began on Friday, Sept. 27, 2002, with official groundbreaking ceremonies at Amtrak's Jack London Square Station in Oakland. When completed, more passenger and freight trains will operate between the two Bay Area cities, with increased reliability and reduced travel time, thereby improving the attractiveness of Capitol Corridor trains as an alternative to the congested I-80 corridor. Other benefits include taking trucks off the highways by allowing more freight train throughput, improving air quality and contributing to the overall improvement in the quality of life for Californians in the Bay Area. The construction project will span 45 miles and includes added tracks and upgraded infrastructure along the Capitol Corridor between Oakland and San Jose, plus added parking and access improvements at the existing Fremont, Great America/Santa Clara and Emeryville stations. This construction program also includes a future Capitol Corridor Station at the Oakland Coliseum that will have an intermodal connection to BART trains and serve Oakland International Airport through AirBART shuttle buses and the future BART - Oakland International Airport Connector. The $88 million program is financed through the Governor's Traffic Congestion Relief Program, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and funds from local cities and communities. Participants at the groundbreaking included: California Secretary of Transportation & Housing Agency Maria Contreas-Sweet; Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, BART Director Tom Blalock, who chairs the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority; Director of California Department of Transportation Jeff Morales, Amtrak President David Gunn, Union Pacific Director of Passenger Operations Tom Mulligan.
Future Oakland Coliseum Intercity Rail Station
The new Oakland Coliseum Intercity Rail Station Project in Oakland, California simultaneously enhances both regional and local community connections; and will potentially influence land development in the area toward the creation of a revitalized infill community. The project will add a new commuter rail station at the existing Oakland Coliseum sports and entertainment complex for the highly successful Capitol Corridor commuter rail line currently running between Sacramento, California and San Jose, California. This additional station will add convenience for the patrons of the commuter rail system and provide them with easier multi-modal connections to:
In addition to facilitating these regional connections, the project will enable greater use of public transportation to the Coliseum and Oakland Airport by local residents living near other Capitol Corridor served transit villages in Emeryville, Hayward and Jack London Square. Ultimately, the City of Oakland plans further transit village development at the Coliseum that will create residential and commercial opportunities within this multi-modal setting. Taken together, these improved community connections will favorably impact the mobility and land use-transportation patterns of the San Francisco Bay Area. The near term commuter rail station will include a 600 foot long, ADA complaint train platform designed to Amtrak's latest standards; three shelters; a 35 car parking lot; two bus stop locations and a new ADA complaint pedestrian scissors ramp that will connect the station to the existing Coliseum-BART pedestrian bridge. Vehicular access will be via a re-designed 73rd Avenue in Oakland that will also provide for bikeways. The entire site will be landscaped and include the lighting, utilities, sidewalks, public art and street furniture that will architecturally focus it as a unified facility both as the rail station and as part of the larger Coliseum complex. Delivering this community and transportation improvement has involved the efforts and funding of a large group of agencies working together toward a combination of regional and local objectives. Project participants include the State of California; the City of Oakland; the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority; BART; Union Pacific Railroad; and Amtrak
Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority
Click each link below to view each set of photos. Photos were taken of the VIPs on the train from Sacramento to Oakland, the speakers at the event, and of the event itself:
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