Caltrain, the nation's oldest commuter rail system west of the Mississippi, unveiled a plan to electrify the line that operates 96 daily trains from San Francisco to San Jose using technology that requires changes in federal and state regulations.
"If its efforts are successful, Caltrain will open the door for other agencies around the country to modernize their rail services with cheaper, more efficient rail vehicles like those used in Europe and other parts of the world."
"We are a third-world country when it comes to public transportation," said Arthur Lloyd, a member of the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, the tri-county agency that assumed ownership of the 142-year-old line from Caltrans, the state transportation agency, in 1992.
"This is the time and this is the place to change an industry," said Bob Doty, manager of rail operations for Caltrain. "Once we pass this opportunity up, we won't get it again."
"The vision was laid out in a Caltrain staff report, codenamed Project 2025, that was presented to the Caltrain joint powers board at its meeting Thursday, Jan. 4. Project 2025 calls for electrification using Electric Multiple Unit (or EMU) trains, so named because each car unit generates its own propulsion...But such trains have not been designated as "compliant" with federal regulations because of their lighter weight. The government requires that compliant locomotives like the ones currently used by Caltrain be encased in tons of steel so they will withstand the impact of a crash."
FULL STORY: Caltrain planning for rail revolution

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie