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Re: How much traffic - really - on the Coast?
Author: BOB2
Date: 08-21-2012 - 10:11
I hadn't heard that UP or Caltrans had an FRA and HSIPR required programatic EIR/EIS on the segment from SLO to Watsonville, so use of FRA funds from this source would be premature.
Ironically, TIGER funded projects would probably not be much of a priority on the Coast Line due to the lack of traffic volumes, when competing with much more competitive freight "efficiency" projects like grade separations on Alameda Corridor East, or projects like Colton crossing.
This recent activity seems to be mostly a pro-active strategic move by UP, with negotiations for the Dayligt extensions coming up, and in order to position themselves to take advantage or set conditions for the SLO to LAUPT improvements, now going through a programatic EIR/EIS.
Given the chronic congestion, need for significant additional operatiponal improvements, and maintenance needs on Tehachipi, UP may also need to want to maintain significant back up capacity on the coast. So having the taxpayers pay for it, for passenger needs, could be a good business decision.
As to the current hiatus on Federal/State rail funding, I expect that we will see more "quiet" HSIPR and TIGER projects being funded by Congress in the future after the hoopla around the election is over. There are just too many impacted grade crossings in major urban, suburban, and rural areas that cost communities huge amounts of delay that are going to be funded, regardless of the current state of political hyperbole.
Ironically, TIGER funded projects would probably not be much of a priority on the Coast Line due to the lack of traffic volumes, when competing with much more competitive freight "efficiency" projects like grade separations on Alameda Corridor East, or projects like Colton crossing.
This recent activity seems to be mostly a pro-active strategic move by UP, with negotiations for the Dayligt extensions coming up, and in order to position themselves to take advantage or set conditions for the SLO to LAUPT improvements, now going through a programatic EIR/EIS.
Given the chronic congestion, need for significant additional operatiponal improvements, and maintenance needs on Tehachipi, UP may also need to want to maintain significant back up capacity on the coast. So having the taxpayers pay for it, for passenger needs, could be a good business decision.
As to the current hiatus on Federal/State rail funding, I expect that we will see more "quiet" HSIPR and TIGER projects being funded by Congress in the future after the hoopla around the election is over. There are just too many impacted grade crossings in major urban, suburban, and rural areas that cost communities huge amounts of delay that are going to be funded, regardless of the current state of political hyperbole.
