December 6, 2005 > MTC holds regional rail workshops

Bay Area voters passed Regional Measure 2 in 2004 which increased bridge tolls on seven state-owned bridges to support various projects to reduce traffic congestion. The measure also requires adoption of a Regional Rail Plan for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area, including an evaluation of California high-speed rail access options.

Residents of Southern Alameda County are currently focused on new rail service across the Dumbarton Bridge scheduled for 2010 and the possibility of Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) expansion to San Jose. While these projects directly affect the Greater Tri-City area, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has invited citizens to workshops designed to elicit ideas on additional transportation needs for the future. Concepts including a high speed rail connection between San Francisco and Los Angeles and a Central Valley route ending in Oakland are among the proposals that have surfaced at these meetings.

Although the Tri-Cities have not been the site of any workshops, meetings have been held in Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco and Livermore, with others scheduled for Modesto, Suisun City, San Carlos and Santa Rosa. 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 at the MetroCenter in Oakland.

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. 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.

If you would like to add your comments, contact MTC at info@bayarearailplan.info, visit http://bayarearailplan.info or call (510) 817-5809.


Remaining Bay Area Regional Rail Plan Community Meetings

• 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
  
  

• 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