califNews
November 4th, 2008, 03:28 PM
Sacramento –As gas prices soar, so does the number of people riding trains, Caltrans reported today. June was a historic, record-breaking month for Amtrak California trains. More than half a million passengers traveled on the three state-supported services (Capitol Corridor, San Joaquins and Pacific Surfliner), the most passengers Amtrak California has ever carried in a single month
“Intercity trains provide motorists welcome relief from high gas prices, they take vehicles off our congested highways, and they help improve our air quality,” said Caltrans Director Will Kempton. “Trains are a good transportation alternative for many Californians, and as gas prices continue to rise there will be an increasing demand for train service.”
Proposition 1B, the transportation bond championed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and approved by the legislature and voters in 2006, provides Caltrans $400 million to improve California’s intercity rail service, including $125 million to purchase more rail cars and locomotives to meet increasing ridership demand.
"We are gratified with the level of ridership," said Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority Managing Director Eugene Skoropowski. "June was our second highest ridership month ever, in spite of a major track renewal project that Union Pacific undertook on part of our corridor. The track work resulted in reduced train frequency, a mid-day bus bridge, and some service delays, yet ridership grew almost 17 percent. Now that we are back to reliable full service, we expect to see continued and sustained growth."
California has the largest state-supported intercity passenger rail program today, both in terms of dollars and riders. Caltrans provides about $80 million annually to Amtrak to operate three routes for the state. Ridership on these routes reached a record 5.4 million in fiscal year 2006-07...
Get more (http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/news/pressrel/08pr12a.htm) information.
“Intercity trains provide motorists welcome relief from high gas prices, they take vehicles off our congested highways, and they help improve our air quality,” said Caltrans Director Will Kempton. “Trains are a good transportation alternative for many Californians, and as gas prices continue to rise there will be an increasing demand for train service.”
Proposition 1B, the transportation bond championed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and approved by the legislature and voters in 2006, provides Caltrans $400 million to improve California’s intercity rail service, including $125 million to purchase more rail cars and locomotives to meet increasing ridership demand.
"We are gratified with the level of ridership," said Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority Managing Director Eugene Skoropowski. "June was our second highest ridership month ever, in spite of a major track renewal project that Union Pacific undertook on part of our corridor. The track work resulted in reduced train frequency, a mid-day bus bridge, and some service delays, yet ridership grew almost 17 percent. Now that we are back to reliable full service, we expect to see continued and sustained growth."
California has the largest state-supported intercity passenger rail program today, both in terms of dollars and riders. Caltrans provides about $80 million annually to Amtrak to operate three routes for the state. Ridership on these routes reached a record 5.4 million in fiscal year 2006-07...
Get more (http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/paffairs/news/pressrel/08pr12a.htm) information.