For your information.

Sean Charpentier
Office of Jim Beall

January 14, 2000

Blanca Alvarado
Chairperson, Valley Transportation Authority
3331 North First Street, Building C
San Jose, CA 95134-1906

Dear Supervisor Alvarado:

This letter is to inform the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) of my concerns regarding the current scope of the Measure B Caltrain Program and to provide an alternative scenario that would allay my concerns.

My primary concern regarding the current plan is that it does not add enough trains. The Valley Transportation Authority's plan proposes to add 12 trains, for a total of 80 trains. While these additional trains will be much appreciated, they are not enough. The VTA's plan is not sufficient to meet the demand, nor is it sufficient to manifest the intent of Measures A& B and maintain the faith of the community.

I would like to see the Measure B Caltrain project run 86 trains a day. This is what was promised the voters. During the Measures A&B Campaign, I distinctly remember distributing campaign material that clearly stated that the Caltrain service would be increased to a total of 86 trains. Below is a quote from the main campaign brochure.

Increase Caltrain Service from San Jose up the Peninsula. Improvements include an increase from 60 to 86 trains per day. Trains will arrive at least every 30 minutes- instead of every hour- throughout the day. In addition, the line will be upgraded to improve bike access, parking, lighting and shelters.

Unwavering adherence to the transportation program that was presented to the voters is necessary to maintain their trust. Voters trusted the County to provide 86 trains. Upholding and expanding that trust is crucial for the success of future transportation methods like SCA 3.

Many community stakeholders support my request for 86 trains. Increasing the number of trains is the common thread connecting the public input contained in the VTA's plan and the 132 Peninsula Rail 2000 faxes received by the County Board of Supervisors. It is important to note that those faxes were a direct response to the VTA's plan to run 80 trains. Caltrain's own documents support increasing service to 86 trains. In the Caltrain 1997 Market Demand Study, running 86 trains was singled out as an improvement that would add considerable ridership.

What I would like from the VTA is an action plan detailing how we can run 86 trains and how to accelerate the schedule for adding those trains. The action plan should contain specific responses to the questions below.

What will it cost to run 86 trains? What are the capital costs and the operating costs? What is the projected ridership? Can the ridership be maximized by filling gaps in service? What actions are necessary by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), and the Joint Powers Board (JPB) to run 86 trains? When will those actions have to be taken? If the two other partners of the JPB do not agree to run 86 trains, can Santa Clara County run trains between Gilroy and Palo Alto?

My secondary concern is one of process. I am concerned that it has become necessary for me to write this letter. I feel that the answers to most, if not all, of my questions should have been provided by the VTA as a written response to the Board of Supervisors' original letter to the VTA, dated October 29, 1999.

The public has requested the 86 trains that Measures A&B promised them. Transportation policy makers and staff need to ensure that the implementation of the Measure B Transportation Improvement Program mirrors the program that the voters supported. In its current form, the VTA's Caltrain proposal falls short of that goal. I hope that the scenario that I have proposed above will bring us closer to achieving the intent of Measures A& B.

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to decide upon this issue at the January 25th meeting. Please inform the County if you will be able to adequately respond to this memo before the meeting on January 25th.

I have enclosed a copy of the quoted campaign brochure. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call my office at (408) 299-3924.

Thank you,

James T. Beall, Jr.
Supervisor, 4th District

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