444

Bikes Board First Pilot Extended In June, Caltrain expanded the Bikes Board First program to three additional stations: Sunnyvale and Hillsdale on the northbound platform, and 22nd Street on the southbound platform. From 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., bicyclists at these locations will be allowed to board bike cars first. Passengers with bicycles are encouraged to board the bike cars at the southern end of the platform. Caltrain staff will be on hand at those stations to enforce the policy, which will

Caltrain Connection is produced by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board. Comments, questions, contributions and suggestions should be directed to:

Dan Lieberman, Editorcommunications@samtrans.com

Caltrain ConnectionP.O. Box 3006

San Carlos, CA 94070-1306

Contributing WritersTasha Bartholomew

Matt Wilson

Caltrain Board of DirectorsJeannie Bruins, chair

Gillian Gillett, vice chairCheryl Brinkman

Cindy ChavezDevora “Dev” Davis

Jeff GeeDave Pine

Charles StoneMonique Zmuda

Jim HartnettExecutive Director

www.caltrain.com 1.800.660.4287

prevent bicyclists from having to navigate through a crowd of riders blocking the entrance. These boardings will be timed and compared to the standard boarding process to determine if this new approach could make overall Caltrain service more efficient. The initial pilot began in April on northbound platforms at the Mountain View, Palo Alto and Redwood City stations, where boarding times often took well over one minute. During the pilot, those times were

Grant AwardGrant Awardcontinued from page 1

decreased to within a desirable range across these stations, with some trains shaving more than a minute from their boarding times. The Bikes Board First policy remains in effect at these stations. Caltrain carries more bikes than any other rail system in the country, so it’s our hope that this will make the riding experience more efficient and get everyone to where they’re going faster. Please, do your part to speed up everyone’s commute and let bikes board first!

$5.4 billion per year in programs that will fix roads, repair bridges, and improve public transportation services statewide. Last year, Caltrain began work on the Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project after approval of a $647 million federal grant that fully funded the $2 billion investment. The project improves the frequency, travel time, capacity, reliability, and safety of Caltrain’s rail service by replacing 75 percent of Caltrain’s diesel fleet with modernized electric trains. The new funding awarded from SB 1 will be used to fully

electrify the Caltrain mainline service between San Francisco and San Jose, which will help maximize the benefits of Caltrain Electrification for current and future riders. The grant also invests in the lengthening of boarding platforms at some Caltrain stations to eventually accommodate longer, 8-car electric trains, and provides funding that will be used toward the completion of the Caltrain Business Plan, an effort to identify a long-term service vision for the corridor along with a supporting funding strategy. The grant requires Caltrain to identify a $40 million matching investment.

1

continued on page 4

ConnectionCaltrain

Information for Customers

Flying is a miracle, one that would have stunned our ancestors into an awed silence. The logistics of getting to the airport, however, leave something to be desired, and with San Francisco International Airport located next to the ever-congested Highway 101, many travelers who depart and arrive there are hungry for another option. Enter SamTrans Route SFO, a new direct service from the Millbrae Transit Center to all terminals of the Bay Area’s premiere airport. Route SFO runs every half hour from 5:45 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, 8:20 a.m. to 12:15 a.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to

In April, the California State Transportation Agency announced a $164.5 million investment from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program to support Caltrain service improvements including the replacement of Caltrain’s diesel fleet with high-performance electric trains, the addition of Wi-Fi service onboard the system’s new electric fleet, and enhanced bicycle facilities at Caltrain stations. The funding is being made available thanks to last year’s approval of Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the landmark transportation funding legislation that invests

11:45 p.m. on Sundays. The route is designed to provide an easy connection from Caltrain to SFO, as the bus comes directly to the Millbrae Station platform. The buses running this route have a special wrap and a luggage rack for rider’s convenience. Route SFO operates for the same price as all SamTrans buses ($2.25 for adults, $1.10 for kids, seniors and the disabled). So the next time you’re planning on flying off to sunny beaches somewhere, or when family is coming in at rush hour, remember that Route SFO is there to provide a quick and hassle-free travel experience getting to and from the airport.

SamTrans Route SFO Airport Flyer at Millbrae Transit Center

Labor Day Caltrain will operate a

Sunday schedule on September 3rd

for Labor Day.

The schedule is available at www.caltrain.com

SamTrans New Route Connects Caltrain to SFO

Caltrain Celebrates $164 million Grant Award

Sum

mer

201

8

2 For residents of the Bay Area, the Mission-style burrito is our birthright. While Mexican in origin, its journey is an American one, starting with humble beginnings as meat and beans held within a tortilla, a utility lunch for hard-working folk. But upon its arrival into America, it was decided it needed an American rebranding, and thus the amalgam of meat, beans, rice, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole was born. Multiple restaurants claim to have created the first burrito that we know and love; one of them is Taqueria La Cumbre, located right next to the San Mateo Caltrain Station. On a recent Monday, a few co-workers and I decided to take a quick train trip to La Cumbre. As we disembarked, the smell of carne asada met us at the platform, and we made haste towards the taqueria located right next to the southbound platform. Despite our early arrival at 11:15 a.m., we were not alone in line, and the crowd continued

to grow during our visit. After ordering at the counter, we assembled our salsas and took a seat outside to enjoy the sun. My colleagues, who were having their first La Cumbre burrito experience, were quickly relieved of their skepticism. The cheese was melted against the tortilla, providing for even distribution, which was matched by the other ingredients. The refried beans were as smooth as they could be, while the black beans were whole and cooked to perfection. Carne asada came in large chunks, giving an appropriate heft to this king of meats, while the al pastor came with the appropriate balance of sweet against savory, letting the pork work it’s magic. What struck us most was the freshness of the ingredients, as if a garden had wrapped itself in a tortilla and gave itself to us as an offering. The enchiladas had a similar level of quality, with a smoky sauce akin to a good barbecue sauce that paired beautifully with the bold flavors held within. All in all, Taqueria La Cumbre clearly earned the solid line at the counter that had formed by the time we bussed our plates and headed back to the platform. Chew Chew Train is a monthly blog feature highlighting places to eat along the Caltrain line. If you have a suggestion for a future restaurant, please email Public Affairs Specialist Dan Lieberman at liebermand@samtrans.com.

La Cumbre - America is a Burrito

EVENTS CALENDAREVENTS CALENDARTake Caltrain to these special events. The station name and any additional transit service are listed below each event.

Thru September 30San Francisco GiantsAT&T Park, San FranciscoSan Francisco Caltrain Stationwww.sfgiants.com

Thru October 21San Jose EarthquakesAvaya Stadium, San JoseSanta Clara Caltrain Stationwww.sjearthquakes.com

August 14George R. R. MartinFox Theatre, Redwood CityRedwood City Caltrain Station www.foxrwc.showare.com

August 15-16Jack WhiteBill Graham Civic Auditorium, San FranciscoMillbrae Caltrain Station to BART Civic Centerwww.san-francisco-theater.com

September 1-2Millbrae Labor Day Weekend FestivalBroadway Avenue, MillbraeMillbrae Caltrain Stationwww.millbrae.miramarevents.com

September 8-9Mountain View Art & Wine FestivalCastro Street, Mountain ViewMountain View Caltrain Stationwww.mountainview.miramarevents.com

October 13-14Half Moon Bay Pumpkin FestivalMain Street, Half Moon BayHillsdale Caltrain Station to SamTrans 294www.pumpkinfest.miramarevents.com

Caltrain Safety Tips ● When crossing a train track, remember that a train can come

from any direction at any time, and that it is moving faster than it seems. Always cross carefully and quickly.

● Be aware of the doors when wearing loose clothing, as they can close quickly and trap loose fabric.

● Keep your children close by while at stations or on board so they do not get too close to the tracks or get separated from you.

3

Caltrain’s Los Gatos Creek Bridge Replacement Project has won the Construction Management Association of America’s (CMAA) Northern California Project Achievement Award in the Transportation category. The award recognizes professionalism and excellence in construction management for a project that brought the Los Gatos Creek Bridge up to new safety standards, while also protecting local wildlife. The $20.8 million project, nearly 80 percent of which came from the Federal Transit Administration, was first conceived in 2010 when it became apparent that the old bridge would have to be replaced in order to maintain safe rail operations and meet

seismic safety standards. The project was complicated by the fact that Chinook and Steelhead Salmon, as well as the California Red-Legged Frog, use the Los Gatos Creek as a breeding and spawning ground. This required work to take place only between June and October, and required special measures to protect the habitat. Work began in November 2016 and was completed in December 2017. The project has made the corridor safer, improved operations at the San Jose Diridon Station, reduced system-wide delays caused by a lack of siding and will be necessary to accommodate the electrified system that will launch in 2022.

Caltrain Awarded for Los Gatos Creek Project