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.

At this morning’s meeting of the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, the Board voted to suspend the operation of the Midday ACE train in concept, and opened the 30-day public comment period on the service reduction.  The public hearing for adoption of the ACE service reduction has been set for the October 2^nd 2009 regular Commission board meeting.

Based on direction from the Board and feedback from commuters, staff developed the costs associated with moving the 4^th train into a commuter slot.  Keeping the 4^th train in the midday slot with an average of 50 passengers in each direction, or less than 5% of the annual ridership, will cost the Commission between $700,000 and $800,000 this fiscal year, assuming a stable ridership and no increase in fuel.  In addition to this current service budget, moving the Midday train to a commute-hour slot would cost an additional $560,000 because of increased shuttle fees.  These costs are simply not feasible with the current economic climate.

Now, it appears that unemployment trends may be a much more powerful influence than any marketing efforts on overall ACE ridership.  This being the case, a more conservative approach has been approved to suspend the operations of the 4^th train – midday or otherwise – in October and wait to reintroduce the 4^th train into a peak slot when the unemployment statistics begin to measurably improve.

Starting today, comments regarding this service reduction are welcome and encouraged by sending an email to the Director of Planning and Programming.  Comments will be accepted until the October 2^nd board meeting, and the public is invited to participate in the board meeting either online at www.acerail.com or in-person at 949 E. Channel Street, Stockton, CA 95202.

UPDATE 7/06/09:  The train consists have not been reduced.  We anticipate that the change will occur this week and you can check the status here.

With the arrival of summer, many customers are suspending their work commutes for vacation holidays, and frankly, our trains are a little less crowded these days.  As a result, all ACE trains with 6 car consists will be reduced to 5 car train sets effective July 6th, 2009.

This train size reduction will be both cost effective for the Rail Commission and a reduction in fuel consumption.

The modified line up will be as follows:

Car 1   Coach

Car 2   Bike Rack/Coach

Car 3   Bike Rack/Coach

Car 4   Dim-Lit Coach

Car 5   Dim-Lit Coach

Thank you for using ACE, and DO let us know if you have any questions.

Transit agencies everywhere are slashing service and raising fares in response to the escalating unemployment figures and the resulting loss in transit ridership.  Newspapers and transit journals are plastered with headlines about the deep cuts that need to be made for transit to stay afloat and the uncertainty over whether even those will be enough.  The downswing in the economy is also wreaking havoc on the state and local funding sources that cover the costs for operations and maintenance.  But enough of the negativity…

THIS IS ACE LIFE!

We have committed to you that we would get creative in times like these, that we try anything and everything to keep the ACE service whole, and that we would bear the first cuts in the hopes that you wouldn’t have to.

THIS IS THE PLAN: 

The midday train helps carry non-commuters for family and leisure or other business trips, and ACE riders working half days from time to time.  However, as many of you have seen, it is not near as productive as the peak period trains.  So our first stance against this economic onslaught is to move the midday train to regular commuter slots.  Hooray! you might say.  Another morning and evening choice!  But there are some issues you need to be informed about.  The shuttle cycle-back time for the longer bus routes at Great America is approximately one hour.  This is why our schedules have always been roughly an hour apart.  By plugging another train slot in the middle of the current trains, we have to shift most of the other trains a bit as well.

This is where most of you groan….I know you have worked hard to dial in your current train/work schedule, and shifting it is going to upset that apple cart.  But this is the only way we are going to get 4 peak-period trains into San Jose in the morning.

The proposed changes for the morning and evening look something like this:

Morning

• ACE 1 schedule remains the same
• ACE 3 will operate five minutes earlier at all stations (to provide time for VTA shuttles to return for ACE 5)  NO CHANGE
• ACE 5 will operate 20 minutes earlier at all stations
• ACE 7 will operate 2’15” earlier at all stations (7:15 am departure from Stockton)

Afternoon

• ACE 2 will move from a 12:05 pm departure from San Jose to a 6:40 pm departure, Monday through Thursday.  (Will be renumbered to ACE 10)
• On Fridays only, ACE 2 will depart from San Jose at 2:25 pm.  This seems to match up better with the current ridership patterns which are heavier on the earlier trains.

We are taking this concept to the Rail Commission Board Meeting on Friday, June 26^th (note the change in date for this special meeting) and would like to relay your comments to the Governing Board.  Additionally, you are welcome to make comments during the Board meeting via our online broadcast at www.acerail.com.  More information on the online meeting can be found at ACERAIL.com by clicking on the SJRRC Board tab.

I really do appreciate your input, and I am encouraged by your support during this time of global change.

Please email your comments to THOMAS.

All of the new ticket stock has arrived.  Please remember that the fare increase will be effective February 2, 2009.  Tickets purchased prior to February 2 will still be accepted.

Ticket stock for the new ticket prices was ordered in October.  However, the vendor has had continual printing delays and problems with the ticket quality.  The final ticket stock was scheduled to arrive on December 15th, but was not delivered.  So, our lemons will become your lemonade!  The fare increase which was to be effective January 2 will be postponed until February 2.   I appreciate your flexibility, and ask that you keep February 2nd in mind as the effective date for the new ticket prices. 

Stacey Mortensen

UPDATE:  Tickets purchased before January 30, 2009 will be valid until used.

This afternoon at approximately 1:39 PM ACE 02 was delayed due to a crossing incident at Corral Hollow Rd in Tracy.  There were no injures to the 35 passengers onboard the train.  Thanks to San Joaquin RTD, a bus bridge was setup to transport passengers to Lathrop/Manteca and Stockton.

*UPDATE: The computer problem causing the delay has been repaired.  ACE 04, 06 and 08 will operate as scheduled. 

ACE 07 will end at Fremont and a bus bridge has been setup to take passengers to Great America and San Jose.  Passengers travelling to Great America and San Jose can expect delays of 15 - 20 minutes. 

A bus bridge will also be setup for ACE 02 at the San Jose and Great America stations.  The bus will pick up passengers at San Jose and Great America and transport them to the Fremont station to board the train.  The ACE 02 Fremont departure time has been delayed 10 minutes to accommodate the bus bridge.

The delay in service is due to computers being down at the San Jose station causing a system-wide signal interruption.  This interruption has prevented any trains from leaving the San Jose station. 

We do not anticipate this delay affecting ACE 04, ACE 06 or ACE 08.

Monday, December 1st, the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission board meeting will be broadcast live online.  Please click here to register using the event number: 664 944 964.  The board meeting begins at 8:00 AM and you can view the agenda here.  If you have any question please contact Thomas Reeves. 

The new ACE Fare Table is available to view and download.  The fare table reflects the recently approved fare increase and will be effective January 5, 2009 January 2, 2009.  Please contact ACE customer service if you have any questions.

Effective January 5, 2009 trains will begin operating on the new ACE schedule.  All stations between Lathrop/Manteca and Great America are affected.  The departure and arrival time of Stockton and San Jose will remain the same.  Please note that all AM WESTBOUND TRAINS WILL DEPART ONE TO FIVE MINUTES EARLIER. 

Please click here to see the new schedule.

Representatives from Quality Resource Associates will be onboard the train this week conducting our annual passenger survey.  All ACE riders are encouraged to participate.  If you have any questions please contact Thomas Reeves.

Find out how you can win a free monthly pass by participating in our marketing campaign.  All you need is to send us a picture.  Click below for the details.

Friday, November 7th, the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission board meeting will be broadcast live online.  Please click here to register using the event number: 667 277 276.  The board meeting begins at 8:00 AM and you can view the agenda here.  If you have any question please contact Thomas Reeves. 

Below are the winning tickets for the Oscar bag raffle.  If you are one of the winners please contact ACE customer service at 1-800-411-RAIL.