Please see below the updated information regarding the Altamont Corridor Rail Project.  The slide show below was presented at the May 2010 California High-Speed Rail Board Meeting.  SJRRC/ACE is working with the California High-Speed Rail Authority on the Altamont Corridor Rail Project as well as the Merced to Sacramento project.  If you have any questions about the project, please leave them in the comment section.

The Great Valley Center has ranked the Altamont Corridor Partnership Work Group number 5 of the Top 11 Good Things That Have Happened in 2009 In The Central Valley.  This group is working to improve transit between the Central Valley and the Bay Area, which includes improving the ACE service.  The group is working on scenarios to reduce travel time from Stockton to San Jose, increase service and potentially add a line to Modesto.  For more information visit www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov or see the November post on this blog about the Altamont Corridor Rail Project.

ACE and the CA High Speed Rail Authority are undertaking a corridor improvement project as part of the statewide High Speed Rail Initiative.  This project would incrementally upgrade the ACE service on a separate, dedicated passenger track and may ultimately be fully grade-separated, electrified and compatible with the high speed train equipment.  The project scoping meetings outlined in the attached newsletter are the first opportunity for ACE riders, communities and stakeholders to give input on the potential alignments, designs and station concepts.

It is important that you help shape this project by attending the scoping meetings, or sending comments by December 4th to Dan Leavitt, Deputy Director of the CAHSRA.  Instructions for how to do this are included in the newsletter.

This is an unprecedented opportunity for upgrading the ACE service and I hope you will lend your ideas and support to this effort.

Stacey

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The Altamont Corridor Rail Project will transform the existing Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) into a dramatically streamlined system with faster intercity service and better regional connections. The future Altamont Corridor Express could speed commuters from the Central Valley to the Silicon Valley faster than ever before—cutting the current 2 hour plus trip down to about 1 hour. Station stops may include Tracy, Livermore / Pleasanton, Fremont / Union City and Milpitas. The goal is to run state-of-the-art electric trains that will be more comfortable, faster, cleaner and greener. The system will work for our communities on many levels, allowing quick trips between cities, commuter access to job centers, easy connections to local transit systems, and access to California’s planned High-Speed Train network.

Public Scoping Meetings
Please join us at one of the upcoming meetings to learn about the new Altamont Corridor Rail Project and kick off the environmental review process. This exciting project could provide faster intercity and commuter train service between Stockton and San Jose via the Altamont Pass, as well as links to BART, California High-Speed Trains and other transit. A link to Modesto is also a possibility. Come talk with project planners and share your ideas about potential routes and station stops. The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission and other agencies are providing local leadership and encourage public involvement to help plan a great project.