Caltrans will soon publish the draft 2018 California State Rail Plan (web attachment) for public review and will present the draft to this Committee for input.
The plan includes separate sections for passenger and freight rail, including a short-term four year program of projects, a 10-year interim program, and a long-term “vision” with a 2040 horizon year. The passenger component of the plan is based on a proposed “Integrated Network” to provide “Core Services” with coordinated schedules and efficient transfers providing access to and supporting convenient intercity rail travel. Caltrans has established a principle in its planning process to connect communities with a population of 40,000 or greater to a statewide passenger rail network.
This ambitious plan is intended to establish a long term framework to guide service planning and investment decisions that supports, or does not preclude, development of the integrated network. The passenger rail planning effort includes a market assessment, a rail infrastructure review (a.k.a. capacity analysis), and a refinement of network service scenarios. Outside the scope of the plan but a necessary next step is an analysis of organizational structures required to support the plan’s implementation.
Caltrans has proposed principles for prioritizing investments such as: services tailored to market demand, minimizing freight interference, avoiding duplication of services and investments, and minimizing throw-away interim investments.
The plan reflects the goal of auto-competitive alternatives for statewide travel and a connection to the statewide High-Speed Rail network at Gilroy. The plan includes intercity bus options as well as rail, and much of the service proposed for the Central Coast region is envisioned to be bus in the near term, while planning for increased rail service in the longer term. The draft plan includes the Salinas Rail Extension project, and Salinas as a rail hub.