SamTrans may partner with Facebook on Dumbarton rail

SamTrans/Caltrain needs money to modernize, electrify and grade separate their commuter rail line from San Francisco the San Jose. SamTrans/Caltrain can raise the money they need by selling the Dumbarton right-of-way to Facebook. SamTrans/Caltrain have never had any interest in working on the Dumbarton rail corridor.

The new commuter line, from Stockton to San Francisco, should be operated by ACE. Being from Redwood City, Jim Hartnett will try to force ACE to terminate in Redwood City, but ACE must be allowed to use Caltrain's right-of-way. Commuters at stations from San Francisco to Redwood City will understand the purple train goes to Stockton while the red train goes to San Jose (and Gilroy).

The cost of this project could run in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Facebook gives just enough to create an interest. We are not dumb Facebook. Put up the whole amount to fund the project. Your company is the major benefit. When are your employees going to get tired of the traffic problems on Willow and Marsh Roads. Everyone that drives during the hours of 7:00 Am to 10:00Am and 2:30Pm to 8:00Pm on both roadways are tired too. Any solution?

@sill the right-of-way

You bring up an interesting idea that I have never heard before. However, you have to consider that Caltrain's right-of-way between San Francisco and Redwood City is largely only two tracks. If you propose running ACE trains there during commute hours, then space restrictions means that you'll have to restrict the number of trains heading to points south, including the second, third, fourth, and seventh largest stations in terms of weekday ridership (Palo Alto, San Jose, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale). I don't think Caltrain would agree to this plan to reduce service to those areas, nor should they.

The only way to run ACE trains north along the Caltrain ROW without decreasing level of service is to four-track the entire route, and I don't believe peninsula communities are supportive of that idea at all.

Extend Tri-Valley BART along I-580 to an ACE transfer station at Greenville in Livermore. With ACE planning Central Valley extensions, this connection would let many Trans-Altamont commuters either transfer to BART or continue to the Silicon Valley.