(The following report by Erin Sherbert appeared on the Stockton Record website on December 13.)
STOCKTON, Calif. — The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission wants to start a new commuter train that would take passengers from Modesto through Stockton and up to Sacramento.
The plan for the “Central Valley Express” is in the early stages, but officials hope to have the service up and running by the end of next year.
“You can only build highways so wide,” said Brian Schmidt, rail program manager for the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission.
“With the way things are going with congestion, this is going to happen.”
The train would leave Modesto and stop in Lathrop, where commuters could then transfer to the Altamont Commuter Express to San Jose, or continue north with stops in Stockton, Lodi and Sacramento, Schmidt said.
Commuter Thomas Huff said he would definitely ride the Central Valley Express if it meant cutting back on the time he spends on the road.
“You bet I would,” said Huff, a Caltrans employee who commutes between 40 minutes and two hours a day to get from Lodi to his job in Sacramento.
“I’ve tried a variety of mass transit but it hasn’t worked for me because of my work schedule, and the connections aren’t convenient.”
But Huff and other commuters may have to wait. A Union Pacific Railroad official said the railroad can’t add another passenger train on the already congested UP rail line.
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Train delays hit a record high this year, largely because of the increase in freight trains along the Union Pacific railroad and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line.
“We don’t have room for extra trains,” said John Bromley, director of public affairs for Union Pacific. “We’re not interested in doing that at this time.”
Schmidt has suggested building a second set of tracks in the Modesto and Lathrop rail corridors to accommodate the new commuter train. That would cost at least $50 million, he said.
But double-tracking from Stockton up through Lodi would be too difficult because there are already rail sidings along the main tracks, he said.
“They say they are not interested, whatsoever,” Schmidt said of Union Pacific. “We need to see what we can work out together.”
Rail officials admit they are also faced with huge financial hurdles, such as securing money to pay for capital and operational costs. Capital improvements alone could cost $50 million or more, and operating the commuter train would likely cost $10 million annually, they said.
The three counties that would use the Central Valley Express — Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Sacramento — would have to pay between $1 million and $2 million annually to help maintain the system, said Phillip Pennino, a Stockton-based consultant working with the rail commission.
The remaining cost to operate the express will be recouped from rider fares, Pennino said.
Stanislaus County is the only one of the three counties that does not have a local transportation tax. But Stanislaus County officials said there are plans to put a transportation tax measure on a future ballot.
“We have a large commuter group, and having a rail service would make commutes easier and get cars off the roads,” said George Stillman, public works director for Stanislaus County. “We think this is the solution.”
Martin Tuttle, executive director of Sacramento’s COG, said Sacramento County voters in November approved an extension of the half-cent sales tax but that money has already been earmarked.
“It makes a lot of sense to consider it,” Tuttle said. “But our plate is full. There’s no money for it.”
About 100,000 vehicles travel Highway 99 daily, transportation officials said. Traffic congestion will only increase, heightening the need for the commuter train route, officials said.
In addition, an estimated 10,000 commuters drive daily between Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties, said Andrew Chesley, deputy executive director for the San Joaquin Council of Governments.
“Eventually, it has to happen,” Chesley said.