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May 4, 2005 - The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), the regional agency that manages the Capitol Corridor intercity train service, endorsed the 'Laney Plan' submitted to Congress on Thursday, April 21st. The Capitol Corridor route spans 170 miles linking three of northern California metropolitan areas (San Jose, Oakland/San Francisco, and Sacramento). The trains are operated under contract by Amtrak with funded support from the State of California and are the third busiest Amtrak passenger rail corridor in the nation.
The 'Laney Plan' (named after David Laney, Chair of the Amtrak Board) was submitted to Congress in response to US Secretary of the Department of Transportation Norman Mineta's plan which proposed zero funding for the Amtrak system for fiscal year 2006. It includes a $1.82 billion grant request to Congress, much of it earmarked for capital renewal and debt service.
"The Laney Plan embraces most of the 'reforms' called for by US DOT Secretary Norman Mineta, but distances itself from the components contained in the US DOT plan that would be extremely difficult to implement," said CCJPA Board Chair and Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickinson.
Some aspects of the 'Laney Plan' that are of significance to California include:
"Perhaps most importantly for California," pointed out Roger Dickinson, Sacramento County supervisor and chair of the CCJPA, "is that the 'Laney Plan' echoes one component also included in the US DOT plan by calling for establishment of a federal matching program for capital investments, on terms similar to the federal highway program. The 'Laney Plan' proposes a matching program on an 80-20 basis (80 percent federal, 20 percent state and local funds), as opposed to a 50-50 matching program endorsed in the US DOT plan." Still unknown is the amount of annual funding that would be available under a federal capital matching program, and if states like California, whose investments in passenger rail systems have come entirely from state dollars, will be allowed to use the amounts already invested to apply for the new federal capital matching funds.
Concurrently, bi-partisan bills have been introduced by Congress that would dramatically improve the nation's passenger rail system. HR 1630 would authorize annual funding of $2 billion over the next three years to finance Amtrak's operating and capital expenses and HR 1631 would provide $60 billion for high-speed rail and related infrastructure projects.
Dickinson credits the California Legislature with Congresses' renewed efforts to revamp and support the Amtrak system. "I have to believe that the introduction of the bi-partisan joint resolution in the California Legislature, AJR-18, has had the desired positive impact in Washington already, even though the resolution has not yet been adopted by the full Legislature," noted Dickinson. "Without this joint bipartisan resolution being introduced, our message would not have been heard in the right places in Washington."
"CCJPA will be working for Congressional adoption of the 'Laney Plan' for Amtrak and the funding bills which will make implementation possible," Dickinson affirmed. "And we will be doing this as part of a nationwide effort of local, regional, and state transportation officials and business leaders. California has built a successful intercity passenger rail system, especially the Capitol Corridor, operated by Amtrak. The Amtrak partnership works for California, and can continue to work for us if it is properly funded."
Media Contact: Harry Hamilton
(510) 238-2107
OAKLAND, CA (May 11, 2005) - Passenger service is scheduled to begin June 6th at the new Oakland Coliseum rail platform, making travel to sporting events, concerts, expos, and the Oakland International Airport easy. Located at 600 73rd Avenue, off of San Leandro Street, the new $6.6 million facility will be served by the Capitol Corridor with 12 trains daily. Passengers using the platform can easily walk to the Coliseum BART station, McAfee Coliseum or the Oakland Arena via an accessible ramp that connects to a pedestrian bridge.
"The Capitol Corridor service, which runs from Sacramento to San Jose, will enable visitors to take a train to games and events at McAfee Coliseum and the Oakland Arena," said Oakland City Councilmember Larry Reid (District 7 - East Oakland). "This additional transit option reduces the number of cars being driven to the Coliseum area, thereby reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality."
Three passenger shelters along the 450 foot-long platform protect patrons from the elements and an adjacent surface lot has 35 parking spaces. The facility has a sustainable storm water bio-filtration design.
A public art installation entitled "Bottom of the Ninth" enlivens the ramp that connects the platform with the pedestrian bridge. The artwork, created by Horace Washington, is comprised of 13 different sculptural figures playing baseball.
The Coliseum Intercity Rail Platform project was funded by the City of Oakland's Redevelopment Agency, California Department of Transportation, Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority and Alameda County Congestion Management Agency.