Oakland, CALIF., November 19, 2012 — The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) Board of Directors announced record-breaking ridership and revenue growth for Federal Fiscal Year 2012 (FY2012), which began on October 1, 2011 and ended on September 30, 2012. Over 1.75 million people rode Capitol Corridor trains in FY2012, thus breaking previous ridership records.
“Besides experiencing the highest ridership in the history of our service, revenue for the year was up 9 percent and we maintained the top spot in the Amtrak system for passenger rail reliability for the third year in a row,” said CCJPA Board Chair James Spering. “I’m sure skyrocketing gas prices help to inspire travelers to try our trains, but it’s our 94 percent on-time performance and the wealth of passenger amenities—free Wi-Fi, eTicketing, pleasant crews and the ability to do so many things you can’t do while driving—that keeps folks riding the Capitol Corridor!”
The CCJPA presented its service performance for FY2012 at its final CCJPA Board meeting of the year held on November 14, 2012. At this meeting, CCJPA staff also presented its draft Bicycle Access Plan. The CCJPA Board provided initial feedback on the draft and invites the public to comment as well. All comments are due by January 15, 2013.
More passengers equate more bike using riders
Like its sister transit agencies, the Capitol Corridor has more bike-riding passengers than ever before. Surveys show that riders who bike to and from trains have grown to 10% of its customer base.
“Bicyclists using Capitol Corridor trains have become one of our fastest rising rider profiles,” said CCJPA Managing Director David Kutrosky. In response to this growth, CCJPA staff established a Bicycle Access Work Group in 2011 to address this issue. “We are working with Caltrans to modify Cab Cars on our shared fleet to create more storage for bikes, while keeping aisleways clear to sustain accessibility for our wheelchair using riders,” Kutrosky added. “The first retrofit, Cab Car 8302, was completed in September and the Capitol Corridor expects 14 more modified cars by Spring 2013.”
Besides retrofitting cars, the CCJPA’s Bicycle Access Plan includes at station initiatives such as:
- Proposing a plan for system-wide secure electronic bike storage;
- Introducing folding bicycle rental systems at select stations; and
- Supporting cities in developing and implementing bicycle share systems.
Associated with the comment period for the Bicycle Access Plan, the CCJPA will be hosting two folding bicycle demonstration days, to encourage the shift to folding bikes as they take up less room on transit. The first, hosted by Bay Area Bikes, is planned for November 28, 2012 from 2pm to 6pm at the Oakland Jack London Square Station. The second folding bike event is December 5, from 2-6 PM at the Sacramento Valley Station.
About CCJPA
The Capitol Corridor began service in December of 1991 under management by the California Department of Transportation. In July 1998, the management of the service was transferred to the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), who has managed the route for the last ten years. The CCJPA member agencies are: Transportation & Travel | Placer County, CA
, Sacramento Regional Transit District, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, Solano Transportation Authority, and the Yolo County Transportation District.
CCJPA oversees the service with day-to-day management and staff support from the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART). The CCJPA partners with Amtrak, Union Pacific Railroad, the California Department of Transportation and the communities comprising the CCJPA to offer cost-effective, viable and safe intercity passenger rail service.
About Capitol Corridor
The Capitol Corridor intercity passenger rail stops at 17 stations along a 170-mile rail corridor, with a motorcoach connection to stops in San Francisco. It offers a convenient way to travel between the Sierra Foothills, Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley/San Jose. For information, visit www.capitolcorridor.org or call 1-877-9RIDECC (1-877-974-3322).
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