Funding new public rail transportation in the Bay Area

San Francisco Chronicle/Philip Matier, Andrew Ross, Columnists, 3/26/12.  "$1.5 billion Caltrain deal packs some big extras." 

SF Transbay Terminal will connect to a 1.2 mile tunnel

That just-announced pact to plow $1.5 billion in high-speed rail money into electrifying Caltrain comes with some mighty major side deals - including a pledge by Bay Area leaders to build a 1.2-mile tunnel through downtown San Francisco to connect the line to the new Transbay Terminal.

In the spirit of providing something for everybody, local transportation officials also agreed to go after another $1 billion in federal funds to complete the BART extension to San Jose. That's on top of the $900 million the feds just committed to get BART halfway there from Fremont. "This is a really big deal - we're resolving a lot of regional conflicts," said Adam Alberti, spokesman for the Transbay Joint Powers Authority.  True, but the plan also locks up much of the region's federal mass transit spending for years to come - virtually shutting out any other grandiose schemes, like extending BART into Livermore.

The new plan, however, does buy San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee some political cover. Under a long-standing agreement, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties are on the hook for $60 million apiece to help electrify the Peninsula commuter rail system. San Francisco, however, hasn't figured out how to fund its full share. Now, at least, the mayor can point to a multipronged agreement that could help spur a $2.2 billion federal windfall for the city's attempt to build its downtown rail tunnel. Tony Winnicker, a spokesman for the mayor, said only that "it's a big win for the region - and a giant boost to eventually bringing high-speed rail to a downtown station."  Read more.

Reference -  CA High-Speed Rail Authority.

Posted by Kathy Meeh