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Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
Smart Voter

Modernize Caltrain and trench the train

By Nancy Shepherd

Candidate for Council Member; City of Palo Alto

This information is provided by the candidate
I think this is one of the most important projects of our future. Caltrain will modernize in 2019 and we need to be prepared. Both of Palo Alto's high schools are on the west side of the train tracks, and so is Stanford Hospital and Palo Alto Medical Foundation--while most Palo Altans live east of the tracks. If elected to a second term I will use my skills and influence to support this goal.
In the spring of 2009 I opened my home to a meeting because I learned that neighbors had received notices from the State about possible eminent domain of their home for High Speed Rail. This troubled me. I learned that HSR planned a "freeway" of trains on a viaduct 50' above the city along the Caltrain corridor. And a superstation with a 3,000 car parking garage. I worried about what our City would look like, and so I ran for Council. One of my first interests after being elected to Council was to support Caltrain as the Peninsula's premier commuter system. Today, after four years of long hard work, Palo Alto will not threatened with urbanization by HSR. I am proud to say that this work has paid off with the following:
-HSR will be "blended" into the Caltrain schedule, so that it will use the Caltrain tracks corridor as it exists today.
-Modernizing Caltrain is on schedule for 2019, which will mean that the schedule will work better using electric trains that can start and stop quickly in and out of the stations, shortening the ride between San Jose and San Francisco.
-Increase Caltrain schedule, which is currently at capacity. More trains will run during the commute hours.

There is more to do, I want to:
-Increase funding for Caltrain which is badly needed for maintenance and service.
-Secure funding by championing a dedicated revenue stream so that it does not rely on VTA or SamTrans bus funds.
-Work hard to find a seat for Palo Alto on the Caltrain Board of directors--ensuring representation.

Palo Alto Caltrain station is the second highest used station after San Francisco. I believe it is vital that we expand service, but this will also challenge Palo Alto's surface street intersection crossings. When Caltrain is modernized there will be a train every 5 minutes during commute hours, and the Palo Alto east-west corridors will be stopped when we need them the most.
Last year as Chair of the Council Rail Committee, I questioned the possibility of trenching the train. I then championed a "Grade Separation Study" for the surface street train crossings at Charleston, Meadow, Churchill and Alma which launched a feasibility study. This will identify the costs and challenges that Palo Alto will need to consider--like how long will it take to build, or can the train run during construction. This way we, as a community, can consider options so that no street is stalled due to the train schedule. It will make all crossings safer and more efficient.
I think this is one of the most important projects of our future. Caltrain will modernize in 2019 and we need to be prepared. Both of Palo Alto's high schools are on the west side of the train tracks, and so is Stanford Hospital and Palo Alto Medical Foundation--while most Palo Altans live east of the tracks. If elected to a second term I will use my skills and influence to support this goal.

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