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OAKLAND, CALIF. -- The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) has announced that the Capitol Corridor trains will run on a regular weekday schedule on the President's Day holiday, Monday, February 18, 2008. Riders can find the Capitol Corridor weekday schedule online at http://www.capitolcorridor.org, or call 1-877-9RIDE-CC (1-877-974-3322) for information.
Oakland, CA -- In an effort to protect the State of California's 18-year investment in passenger rail, an "Intercity Passenger Rail Day" in Sacramento will be held where legislators, transportation executives, corridor managers and elected officials will discuss strategies to sustain and expand intercity passenger service. The media is invited to the lunch reception and program, which will be held at Capitol Plaza (Temple Ballroom), 1025 9th Street in Sacramento on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at noon.
"Since 2001, California's population grew 11%," said Capitol Corridor Managing Director Eugene Skoropowski. "In that same period, vehicle miles traveled grew only 8%, while ridership on California's three intercity passenger rail lines increased a whopping 43%--train ridership is exceeding all growth expectations. Now more than 20% of all Amtrak's riders are in California." Skoropowski added.
Intercity rail is the only mode of transport with no source of federal capital match. "California's intercity passenger rail network success was accomplished with 100% voter-approved state funding," said Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) Chair Forrest Williams. "To continue our success and protect California's investment in intercity rail services, we need on-going, consistent, and reliable flow of state capital funding that we can depend on."
After the reception, the Chairs of all four intercity passenger rail corridors will speak on the benefits, challenges, emerging services and opportunities of the state's intercity passenger rail network. They will use this forum to urge all legislators to commit to providing an annual stream of funding to sustain and improve the state's passenger rail system.
"In this era of environmental awareness and concern and rising gas prices, reinvesting in our passenger intercity rail systems gives California drivers a viable travel alternative," said CCJPA Chair Forrest Williams. "Each year, millions of passengers choose to take our trains instead of driving our busy freeways. California's reinvestment for intercity passenger rail is essential to help meet the Governor's greenhouse gas reduction strategies."
Oakland, CALIF., February 13, 2008 -- On Saturday, February 23, 2008 Capitol Corridor, Chronicle Books, and CRAFT magazine invite knitters, crocheters and craft lovers onboard for the annual Stitch 'n Ride™ event to Stitches West 2008, the West's biggest and best knitting expo. Stitch 'n Ride™ is a non-stop "knitfest" where knitters and crocheters from Sacramento and the Bay Area can hop on board the Capitol Corridor and breeze down to the Santa Clara Convention Center for this annual event.
"Traveling via train is the best way to get to Stitches West," said Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority Chair Forrest Williams. "You can enjoy the company of other knitters traveling to the convention, share ideas and showcase your prized projects to others. Stitch 'n Ride™ is not only pleasant, easy and cost-effective, it's the greenest way to go. A train with 500 passengers pollutes less and emits less greenhouse gases then 500 cars on the road."
This year's Stitch 'n Ride™ is bigger because Capitol Corridor is offering a special dedicated train just for yarnaholics. It's better because we're combining fun with charity. Every year onboard our annual Stitch 'n Ride train, Capitol Corridor gives out goody bags and door prize tickets for fabulous prizes generously donated by our sponsors. "This year, we've teamed up with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to promote knitting for a good cause by hosting a chemo cap drive to provide warm hats for patients currently undergoing chemotherapy," said Capitol Corridor Marketing Manager Priscilla Kalugdan. "Stitch 'n Riders can help us with this cause by providing finished knit or crocheted chemo caps by the end of the Stitch 'n Ride trip. Each submitted cap earns knitters another opportunity to win great onboard prizes. We hope to gather a trainload of caps for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society this year," Kalugdan added.
Capitol Corridor will provide a free shuttle from the train station to the convention center for our Stitch 'n Ride™ event on February 23rd or if you prefer to walk, it's a short 10-15 minute stroll to the convention center.
Tickets are now on sale for the annual Stitch 'n Ride™ train to Stitches West 2008! Since this is a special train just for knitters, passengers who have regular Amtrak tickets will not be able to board this train. Purchase tickets early! Special tickets are required to board and be part of the Stitch 'n Ride™ festivities. Passengers can get more information and purchase tickets at: http://www.capitolcorridor.org/stitchnride
Capitol Corridor, Chronicle Books, and CRAFT magazine are extending a free invitation to all media to ride the train. Please contact Luna Salaver at 510 874 7474 or lsalave@bart.gov to arrange for your free train ticket.
The annual Stitch 'n Ride™ is sponsored by Capitol Corridor, Chronicle Books, and CRAFT Magazine. The Stitch 'n Ride™ train will depart Sacramento at 7:50 AM on February 23, 2008. Passengers can also board at any stations south of Sacramento including: Davis, Suisun/Fairfield, Martinez, Richmond, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland Jack London, and Oakland Coliseum. Shuttle buses will also be transporting passengers back to the train station to meet the Stitch 'n Ride™ train for the return trip that Saturday.
One of the most admired and respected publishing companies in the United States, Chronicle Books was founded in 1967 and, over the years, has developed a reputation for award-winning, innovative books and quality merchandise. The company continues to challenge conventional publishing wisdom, setting trends in both subject matter and format, maintaining a list that includes titles in fine art, cookbooks, children's books, music and popular culture. To visit Chronicle Books online, go to www.chroniclebooks.com.
CRAFT magazine (www.craftzine.com) is the first project-based magazine dedicated to the renaissance occurring within the world of crafts. Celebrating the DIY spirit, CRAFT is loaded with exciting projects that use unconventional, unexpected and even renegade techniques, materials and tools. The quarterly magazine is published by the same team behind the celebrated MAKE (www.makezine.com) and Maker Faire (www.makerfaire.com)
magazines.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. They offer a variety of programs and services in support of their mission to: cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life for patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested more than $550 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, LLS made 5.1 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals. For more information and to find the chapter near you visit www.lls.org.
Stitches West takes place February 21nd - 24th at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Visit the huge Stitches Market to pick up new yarns and other fiber arts goodies, register for classes to perfect a technique or learn a new one, and participate in fashion shows, book signings and demonstrations. The Stitches Market (over 200 booths) is open to the public Friday & Saturday (10am-6pm) & Sunday (10am-4pm). For more information and class registration, visit www.knittinguniverse.com.
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