NATIONAL TRAIN DAY COMES TO SANTA BARBARA: ALL ABOARD AT THE SANTA BARBARA AMTRAK STATION SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2008 FROM 11AM to 1PM! JOIN YOUR HOSTS – CoastalRailNow and KMGQ 106.3 FM “I hear the train a comin’…coming round the bend”…and all of Santa Barbara County is invited down to the Santa Barbara Amtrak station on Saturday, May 10 th to celebrate the first National Train Day. Why May 10 th? It commemorates the day back in 1869 when the Golden Spike was driven to connect the first transcontinental railroad. Trains have played an important role in the history of the United States, and their popularity is on the upswing. DOWNLOAD .PDF for more information.
Future of the Central Coast Regional Transportation System Forum on Regional Transportation by Local Experts! Rick Cole, Rob Dayton, Linda Perez, Ron Bottorf Saturday, May 10, 2008 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Ruby’s Café of Oxnard 348 S. Oxnard Blvd. , Oxnard , California (Just steps from the train station at the Transportation Center) DOWNLOAD .PDF for more information
	"Why the folks inside the beltway don’t get it is beyond me," said former Governor, one time Presidential candidate, and past Amtrak Boardmember, Michael Dukakis. He was speaking to a packed Faulkner Gallery gathered to consider the future of transportation on the Central Coast.
Michael Dukakis & Dennis Story

The event was sponsored by ASERT, Alliance for Sustainable and Equitable Regional Transportation, a McCune Foundation sponsored joint venture of Santa Barbara based COAST and Ventura headquartered CAUSE.

Making a case for telling Washington to end the war and build a viable passenger and commuter rail network, Dukakis decried the current administration’s lack of support for rail and proclaimed it’s time to get started on the “Steel Interstate.” ASERT director, Carmen Ramirez, welcomed the crowd assembled in Faulkner Gallery and urged them to take action at the local level.

Rail Passenger Association of California (www.railpac.org) president, Paul Dyson, began the session with a vivid description of the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead on the way to beginning a commuter rail system.

Ventura County Supervisor, Linda Parks spoke for a renewed commitment to transit and rail in a time when reliance on the single occupant vehicle is breaking the family bank. Citing the pitfalls of continuing the status quo, Parks launched into a passionate and well-informed pitch for Maglev trains to revolutionize interregional transportation.

On-TRAC, the Transit and Rail Action for Commuters program initiated by the City of Santa Barbara was next on the agenda. Councilmember Grant House outlined the widely endorsed plan. OnTRAC begins with Amtrak trains between Oxnard and Goleta rescheduled for commuter-friendly service during the morning and evening peak periods.

The service will grow to include three dedicated commuter trains, Surfliners, Vista buses, kiss-and-ride and feeder service in Ventura, and distribution service by MTD and private employers.

A fully integrated transit/rail system benefiting Ventura County residents working in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, and Goleta could provide an alternative to many years of construction-related congestion.

House urged those in attendance to support the extension of Santa Barbara County’s ½ cent transportation sales tax. Measure A (formerly Measure D) is set to include $25 million for commuter rail and dedicated funding for MTD.

Supervisor Parks pointed out that self-help counties have access to Federal and State funds not available to counties that do not provide transportation funding at the local level.

Submitted by: Grant House

Governor Dukakis acknowledged COAST, CAUSE, and ASERT for taking their commitment to alternative transportation, the environment, and social equity into action.

Later, over refreshments at Stateside, Kitty Dukakis revealed that she often brings a book to read while Michael lectures. Today, she exclaimed with a smile, the program was so interesting, she left the book in her bag.

COMMUTER RAIL UPDATE

December 21, 2007

LOSSAN –the Joint Powers Agency overseeing the San Luis Obispo/San Diego rail corridor- has endorsed the On-Trac plan prepared by the City of Santa Barbara. Members of LOSSAN board offered assistance, not only with the Rail/Transit parts of the plan, but also with renewal of Measure D.

Mary Travis of the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and Mike Powers of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) are drafting a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work together on commuter rail (similar to the MOU crafted to create and fund the Coastal Express/Vista bus service).  Patrick Merrill of Caltrans Rail Division agreed to have his staff do research on possible rescheduling of Amtrak trains. He used the term "Commuter Friendly Rail" service and "Commuter Friendly Amtrak" service. 

The City of Santa Barbara will be sending a letter to Ventura City Council requesting to place on their agenda a request to endorse On-TRAC. Supervisor Steve Bennett and the Chamber of Commerce will also be invited. Finally, representatives of CAUSE and COAST are coordinating grassroots efforts in the overall advocacy for alternative transportation, transit, and rail for the workforce that is most affected and that can most benefit.

RAILPAC, NARP & TRANSIT COALITION
MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND CONFERENCE
March 17, 2007

Michael Dukakis		Alex Kummant

MEETING WAS A GREAT SUCCESS -- DOWNLOAD .PDF FOR COMPLETE WRITE UP

• WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE DOING WITH COMMUTER RAIL •

Our advocacy, which began over 3 years ago, has seen a number of commuter rail service startups in the U.S. recently. In Nashville the Music City Star began service in September with used equipment for $35M. In New Mexico the Rail Runner service began in June, running north and south of Albuquerque and took just 3 years from inception to completion. In Portland, Oregon a new Tri-Met commuter rail service will operate on an existing heavy rail line utilizing DMU’s from Colorado Railcar.

Paul Dyson, rail consultant and President of RailPAC (Rail Passenger Assoc. of CA) has offered an alternative to the Wilbur Smith Commuter Rail Study done for SBCAG last year. DysonRail’s study offers a 3-tiered expenditure plan that would result in a commuter rail system that could be had for half the $87M WS estimate. With “Highway 101 Improvements” slated to begin next year, there will be added congestion along the corridor, and will leave people begging for the commuter rail service which was included as part of the 101 In Motion Final Package that was rolled into Measure D 2006.

CoastalRailNow will continue to advocate for regional commuter rail service, and it remains the best way to easily move people between our counties during commute hours.

Santa Barbara Commuter Rail Study

Prepared by: Wilbur Smith Associates

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DYSONRAIL Commuter Rail Study Comments

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