Caltrain Electrification Delay and Bike Car Layout Reconsideration

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Caltrain’s contractor has announced a 1-year delay in the implementation of the electrical infrastructure required for the new electric trains. This delay creates an opportunity for reconsideration the bike car layouts,

In 2015 the Joint Powers board unanimously approved an increase in bike capacity of future electric trains at a ratio of 8 to 1 seats to bike spaces.

In June 2019 the Joint Powers Board voted to decrease bike capacity by 7% on electric trains to a ratio of 9.4 to 1 seats to bike spaces. In addition, the new bike car layout approved in June 2019 has only seven folding seats within view of 36 bicycles. Seats within view of bikes is critical to guard  bikes against thief and help bicyclists rearrange bikes throughout their trips to speed boarding keeping trains on time.

The San Francisco Bicycle Advisory Committee has proposed a resolution for Caltrain to reconsider the Caltrain bike car layout for electric trains. This resolution proposes:

• 1.      Caltrain implement a compromise layout with 4 bike cars, 80 bike spaces per train for a ratio of 8.4 to 1 seats to bike spaces.

• 2.      Adequate fixed seats with in view of bicycles.

• 3.      Supports continued implementation of the 2017 Bicycle Parking Management Plan to encourage passengers who do not need to bring a bike on board to park their bikes at the station.

The SF Bicycle Advisory Committee is asking for our endorsement of the proposal. I recommend we endorse. Bikes on Board Caltrain works and is vital in providing an effective final mile solution.

Please email me your support.

Thanks

Steve Vanderlip