Transit Briefs: Caltrain, CTA, Colorado

Caltrain on May 11 held the third public tour of its new EMUs, which are scheduled to begin revenue service this September. (Caltrain Photograph)

California’s Caltrain welcomes thousands to the third public tour of its new Stadler-built KISS bilevel EMUs (electric multiple-units). Also, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) marks the highest ridership week of 2024; and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs multiple transit-related bills into law, including one to advance Front Range Passenger Rail.

Caltrain

Caltrain on May 11 held the third public tour of its new EMUs, which are scheduled to begin revenue service this September as part of the commuter railroad’s Electrification Project.  

With more than 5,000 RSVPs, the Gannett Fleming- and AECOM-sponsored tour “attracted even larger crowds than the first two events held in San Jose last July and San Francisco last September,” according to Caltrain. Attendees enjoyed food trucks, a live DJ and more. Tours followed a program featuring Congressmembers Anna Eshoo and Kevin Mullin; Senators Josh Becker and Dave Cortese; Assemblymembers Diane Papan, Marc Berman and Alex Lee; Region 9 Federal Transit Administrator Ray Tellis; and Financial Secretary of the San Mateo County Building and Construction Trades Council Bart Pantoja, and Don Cecil of SAMCEDA.  

The 23 new trains will allow Caltrain to run faster and more frequent service, with 16 stations receiving trains every 20 to 15 minutes during peak hours, weekend trains arriving twice hourly, and express service from San Francisco to San Jose in under an hour. Additionally, the new trains will offer digital onboard displays, power outlets at each forward-facing seat, energy-efficient lighting, baby changing tables in restrooms, security cameras, and expanded storage under the cantilevered seats.

“This event marks a transformational and historic time for Caltrain as we prepare for electric service this fall and commemorate 160 years of rail service from San Francisco to San Jose,” Caltrain Board Chair Dev Davis said. “The completion of the Electrification Project will bring cleaner, quieter, and faster service, ensuring that Caltrain will continue to play an integral role in the growth and prosperity of the region.” 

Caltrain’s electrified service is arriving two years later than planned. The commuter railroad’s $2.4 billion Electrification Project is upgrading and electrifying its double-track system from the 4th and King Station in San Francisco to the Tamien Station in San Jose and replacing trains. Caltrain awarded Stadler a $551 million contract to supply 16 six-car EMUs in August 2016 with an option to extend these sets to seven-car trains exercised in December 2018. The 110-mph-capable trainsets were built at the manufacturer’s plant in Salt Lake City, and there are options worth $385 million under the original contract to supply up to 96 additional railcars. The EMUs will replace F40 diesel locomotives—approximately 75% of Caltrain’s diesel fleet—which entered service in 1985. Its newer locomotives will be retained to operate the non-electrified Dumbarton extension and services south of Tamien.

Caltrain, with partners Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) and Balfour Beatty US, have energized and tested the OCS (overhead contact system, or catenary) on the entire 51-mile Caltrain Electrification Project. Electrification, Balfour Beatty reported on May 14, is “substantially complete.” Testing the system’s 23 EMUs at maximum operating speed (79 mph) and preparing for electrified revenue service is under way.

The railroad on March 26 reported shipping 32 of its nearly 40-year-old Nippon Sharyo gallery cars for storage with Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit in Petaluma, Calif., until a buyer is found. Retirement of these cars, which had not been used recently in revenue service, will make room for Caltrain’s new electric fleet.

CTA

CTA during the week ending May 4 provided 6.22 million train and bus rides, up 13% year-to-date and marking the highest ridership week of 2024, the transit agency reported May 16.

The week of April 28 through May 4 was the second highest ridership week system-wide since the onset of the pandemic, trailing only the week before the 2023 Marathon, which was held Oct. 8, CTA said. That same week was also the largest ridership week of the pandemic for the bus system. In March, the CTA said added scheduled bus service on 29 routes, returning service to near pre-pandemic levels.

Following the strong ridership week, CTA said a post-pandemic record for highest daily riders was set on May 8, with 1.06 million rides. The agency anticipates surpassing that record. “Traditionally, spring ridership is below fall ridership,” it noted. “[A]s such, to see such strong numbers this early in the year is a good indicator that CTA is making significant strides in recovering ridership.”

So far in 2024, CTA has experienced 13 days where ridership has exceeded 1 million.

CTA also reported making “significant progress” in hiring new bus and rail operators to address workforce shortages and the usual trends of attrition, and plans to train up to 200 new operators, double the number in 2023.

“As part of our unprecedented hiring efforts, we’ve been able to increase service on bus and rail—a clear sign of progress is that we are continuing to see increases in ridership,” CTA President Dorval R. Carter Jr. said. “As we look toward meeting the increasing ridership demands, we will continue to add more scheduled trips as new operators complete their training and begin serving Chicagoland.”

CTA provided 279 million train and bus rides in 2023, “a year marked by steady growth in ridership and more reliable service,” the transit authority reported Jan. 22. The increase was just over 14% year-over-year.

Colorado

Colorado Gov. Polis on May 16 signed into law three bills aimed at improving transportation and protecting air quality, according to Denver7, an ABC affiliate.

SB24-230 “will provide more funding for transit projects through new fees on oil and gas production,” reported the media outlet. The fees could generate $175 million per year, it noted, with about one-third going to a “wildlife and land fund” and the remainder to transit projects.

“We know that expanding transit is critical in this effort, and we are about 44th in state funding for transit,” said bill co-sponsor State Sen. Lisa Cutter, according to Denver7. “So, this is going to go a long way. It will help maximize ridership, reduce vehicle miles traveled and emissions and improve equity of another really, really important factor improve equity in our system.”

The governor also signed into law SB24-032, Methods to Increase the Use of Transit, while on board a B-Line Regional Transportation District (RTD) commuter train to Denver Union Station. It extends the Ozone Season Free Transit Grant Program, which allows RTD and transit associations to offer free transit services for at least 30 days during ozone season (June through August). “It also creates a new grant program to provide young Coloradans with free fare year-round,” Denver7 reported.

At Union Station, Gov. Polis signed into law SB24-184, Support Surface Transportation Infrastructure Development, which will impose a $3.00 per day fee on rental cars, according to Denver7. “The Legislative Council Staff, which analyzed the bill, said the fee could provide the state with about $60 million a year for transit projects,” the media outlet reported. “Senate President Steve Fenberg, one of the bill’s sponsors, said it also [will] help the state secure federal funding for projects that could someday connect people across the state via rail, including a passenger line [Front Range Passenger Rail] extending from Pueblo to Fort Collins.”

The Governor released this signing statement related to SB24-184: “Today, I’m proud to sign into law SB24-184, ‘Support Surface Transportation Infrastructure Development.’ This bill will provide the necessary resources to reduce congestion. A proven strategy to reduce congestion is to expand transit and rail service throughout the state, which is not only critical to reducing congestion on our roadways, but also meeting our greenhouse gas reduction goals. Colorado is projected to grow in population and travelers to our state by the millions in the coming decades. To support this growth, and to reduce congestion on our public highways and the cost of wear and tear, we need more integrated multimodal travel options. More options will reduce traveler dependence on single occupancy vehicles, increase transportation system capacity, serve regional travel demand, and advance environmental, economic, and equity goals. Rail will be a vital part of these options and I’m excited by the opportunity this bill presents to deliver on Front Range Passenger Rail, as well as Mountain Rail. While the Front Range Passenger Rail District is working with communities to determine station locations, it’s important to point out that while not all station locations have been selected, service to Colorado Springs and a station located in Colorado Springs will be an important feature to this service. I thank the sponsors and proponents for passing SB24-184, which will provide a new revenue source to reduce congestion on our highways and help Colorado meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals.”

For more on these and other bills Gov. Polis signed into law, click here.