SCAG RTP 2012 Discussion

[carter]

Hi all, as you may have heard, SCAG is finalizing its Regional Transportation Plan for 2012.

This presentation [PDF] has lots of interesting discussion (starting on pg. 17) on upgrades it recommends to Metrolink and Amtrak, as well as plans for HSR.

Here's a relevant bit:

Amtrak LOSSAN speed and service improvements

– Capital projects to increase speeds to 110 mph in some segments – current average speed 46 mph
– Double tracking, new sidings, station improvements, grade separations, grade crossings
– New locally-controlled JPA moving forward
– Strategic Implementation Plan in progress
– Estimated costs $6 to $7 billion

No mention of electrification, but 110 mph service would be awesome, even if only in selected corridors.

Just imagine LA-to-SD in under two hours -- even 90 minutes if one can dream. That'd be a game-changer.

[hooligan]

wow this is great i travel to tijuana 4 times a year for work purposes. they really need to double track the whole thing

to bad we cant use some of the HSR money to electrify this route

[jamesinclair]

The link is broken

Dec 7, 2011 12:47:49 GMT -8 hooligan said:

to bad we cant use some of the HSR money to electrify this route

The HSR grants included a lot of money for the LOSSAN route (and even some for the cap and san joquins). Not for electrification, but to speed them up. The San Joaquin was supposedly getting a 90mph section, but I havent heard a word about that since the 2009 grant was handed out.

[hooligan]

Heres the link

www.scag.ca.gov/rtp2012/pdfs/draft/Draft_2012RTPSCS.pdf

[James Fujita]

from what I've seen of the RTP .pdf, SCAG seems to be generally supportive of the Cal HSR project. They include it in their studies, and say that HSR and commuter rail will complement each other. At the same time, they want to speed up the Pacific Surfliner, as Carter pointed out.

It's not an either/ or proposition for them, and I agree. There's no reason why incremental speed increases can't be done on Amtrak/ Metrolink in addition to the 220 mph statewide system.