South County Caltrain Improvement Projects

OVERVIEW

The 2000 Measure A Transit Improvement Program was approved by Santa Clara County voters in November 2000 by a 70.3% majority and authorized a 30-year, 1/2 cent sales tax to begin in 2006. 

Funds from the 2000 Measure A Transit Improvement Program support the Valley Transportation Plan and Expenditure Program (VTP 2030), a long-range transportation planning effort.  VTP 2030 provides a balanced transportation system consisting of transit, roadway, bicycle, and pedestrian improvements. 

Included in VTP 2030 are operational and service improvements that enhance Caltrain service in the southern portion of Santa Clara County. South County projects already in the planning stage include: track improvements from the Coyote area of South San Jose to just north of Morgan Hill and from south of Morgan Hill through San Martin.

UPDATE

South County Track Improvements

While Caltrain owns the rail right-of-way (ROW) it operates on between San Francisco and San Jose, Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) owns the ROW used by Caltrain between San Jose and Gilroy. VTA purchases access slots from Union Pacific to run trains between these two communities.  

In exchange for permission from UPRR to increase Caltrain service between Gilroy and San Jose, VTA has agreed to design and construct 8.3 miles of new railway track, including road and railway crossing improvements, from the Coyote area of South San Jose to just north of Morgan Hill and from south of Morgan Hill through San Martin.

The improvements include construction of a second set of tracks. This section of “double tracking” will allow UP to maintain its current level of freight service while Caltrain offers enhanced passenger service to and from the South County. Also included are roadway and safety improvements to intersections where the railroad crosses surface streets, including Palm, Live Oak, Tilton, San Martin and Church Avenues.

Engineering design is currently underway for the project. Construction is expected to begin in 2008 and be complete by 2010. The project will cost $35 million (2004 dollars).

Gilroy Overnight Storage Tracks 

Caltrain service between Gilroy and San Jose shares track with freight trains operated by UP, which owns the track. An operating agreement between UP and VTA will allow Caltrain to operate up to ten round trips a day to Gilroy once certain track improvement projects are completed.

With the majority of South County Caltrain commuters heading north in the morning and south in the evening, increased train storage capacity is required in Gilroy so the trains are in position for the morning commute. Currently Caltrain is only able to park up to four trains overnight at the Gilroy Station.

The existing track at the Gilroy Caltrain Station will be reconfigured to allow additional Caltrain commuter car storage and improve efficiency of operations. The track realignment will also allow freight trains to more quickly move through the area.

The Gilroy yard reconfiguration will cost $10 million (2004 dollars). Construction will begin in 2009 and be complete in 2010.

Service Improvements

VTA has executed an agreement with UP that will allow South County Caltrain service to operate up to ten daily round trips, when construction of the track improvements are completed. The implementation of increased service will depend on ridership demand forecasts and the cost of additional operating expenses.

How to Reach Us:

For more information on these or other Caltrain operational and service improvement projects, please call VTA Community Outreach at (408) 321-7575, TDD only at (408) 321-2331 or visit us on the web at www.vta.org .

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