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Red Phone, can you give us an update on what the city is doing
to retain Caltrain service to Morgan Hill?
“Red Phone, can you give us an update on what the city is doing to retain Caltrain service to Morgan Hill? The Times has provided excellent coverage on the issue, but I’ve noticed a lack of reporting on the actions that the city must be taking to secure the future of this vital transit link to our northern neighbors. Given that commuter service is essential to the future development of the downtown, local business parks and economic development, I would think the city must be an active participant in discussions with Caltrain’s board of directors. Perhaps the city should take a more active role in promoting Caltrain’s service itself. I think many people may be unaware of what an easy-to-use and affordable transportation solution Caltrain is.
Red Phone: Dear Take the Train, Red Phone contacted Planning Manager Jim Rowe, who said the City Council will consider authoring a letter in support of continued Caltrain service from the Tamien Station in San Jose to Gilroy at its Aug. 25 meeting. If approved, which is likely, they’ll send it to the Caltrain board in advance of its Sept. 2 meeting. That meeting begins at 10 a.m. at the Caltrain Administrative office, 1250 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos.
Hope that answers your questions, good caller.
Smoother ride now at railroad crossing
“Dear Red Phone, now that work has been completed on the East Dunne Avenue railroad crossing, I had a chance to drive it. Maybe it’s my imagination but it seems we now have a hump. Was this bad workmanship or am I imagining things?”
Red Phone: Dear Am I Imagining Things, no you are not. Red Phone contacted Acting Public Works Director Karl Bjarke, who said the road and the track were raised slightly, but that the ride for motorists has improved.
He said Union Pacific Railroad informed the city that their track at the E. Dunne Avenue crossing had sagged to a lower than acceptable level which resulted in too much movement of trains as they passed over that section of track. This was a condition that slowly developed over time.
“The resulting drop in the track level resulted in a rough ride for motorists as they passed over the track,” Bjarke said. “The repair involved UPRR crews raising the track and adjoining rubber pads by an inch or two followed by a re-paving of the street to match the grade of the raised track. Our observation is that the ride for motorists has improved with the raising of the track to its proper level.”
There you have it, good caller. Hope all your rides are smooth.
