MORE PROGRESS ON CALTRAIN MODERNIZATION

Regional transportation officials are making progress in staking a claim for early investment by the California High Speed Rail Authority in electrifying the Caltrain commuter service between San Jose and San Francisco. The Council recently helped mobilize regional action to secure Rail Authority investment in parallel with similar efforts by Southern California transportation officials seeking funding to improve local transit systems in the Los Angeles basin that would ultimately connect to the bullet trains. A memorandum of understanding that outlines the region’s plans for electrifying Caltrain, which is among the Council’s top priorities, could be ready for approval in coming weeks. The Council is also partnering with Caltrain and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission on a study of the economic value of electrifying Caltrain. To learn more about the Council’s efforts to modernize Caltrain, please contact Policy Vice President Michael Cunningham at (415) 946-8706 or mcunningham@bayareacouncil.org.