5 ms·

> We have the tracks, we have the train... the train just does not go this route on weekends. This is the easy one to fix — when there is demand, they can just

by zamfi 7y ago

> We have the tracks, we have the train... the train just does not go this route on weekends. This is the easy one to fix — when there is demand, they can just run more trains. Much harder is the transbay commute at rush hours. There is almost no spare capacity, and it’s not clear how those extra thousands of people in Lafayette will make it in to SF every morning before we build a second transbay tube for Bart — and that’s at least a decade away. I say this as someone who loves development: for the Bay Area to significantly increase its population, we need a ton more transit and we need to start building it now.

skybrian 7y ago
I generally agree, but it seems like jobs should also be moving away from the center? If there are a lot of commuters in Lafayette going to Oakland then the transbay tunnel wouldn't be relevant for them, but there would need to be capacity for local trains. Or if the jobs were in the other direction like Walnut Creek, it would be a reverse commute.
bluGill 7y ago
The problem is they need to create the demand. Anybody who wants to get around and checks transit knows it isn't an option so they find an alternative. If CalTran wants to be useful transit for more than commuters (My understanding as someone not in the area is CalTran runs only a few trips during rush hour - if I'm wrong that invalidates some of my reply...) they need to run more service for a while so people start to think they can count on it.
- zamfi 7y ago
  Lots of people take Caltrain to commute, and commute trains are often standing room only. But almost no one takes Caltrain at non-commute hours.
  - bluGill 7y ago
    I just pulled up the schedule, just looking at the schedule I can confidently tell you that the only people taking CalTrain are going to work or have no other choice: From 10-11 am there is 1 stop at most stations/direction. Trains and buses that only run once an hour midday exist only for those who have no choice: those unable to drive (generally disabled - blind). You need to run at least every half an hour to even think about getting people who are not going to work. People going to work generally can adjust their schedule enough to make hourly work and once they figure it out they don't have to think about it again. Also those going to work generally have very heavy traffic as the alternative. If you want a train/bus to be used by people who have a choice you must run not less than ever half hour for 16 hours a day. The more often you run the more people who will ride, up to about 5 minutes where everybody knows you can just show up and get on. (unfortunately the amount of extra riders you get from coming more often isn't linear so you sometimes cannot justify coming more often by the amount of extra riders you get) Note, there is a 2 year lag between changes in routes/schedules and riders figuring out the new routes. I think Caltrain could get a lot more non-commute hour riders by coming more often but if you push them to make sure you make everybody aware that it will be 2 years before there is a change.

by zamfi 7y ago

skybrian 7y ago

I generally agree, but it seems like jobs should also be moving away from the center? If there are a lot of commuters in Lafayette going to Oakland then the transbay tunnel wouldn't be relevant for them, but there would need to be capacity for local trains. Or if the jobs were in the other direction like Walnut Creek, it would be a reverse commute.

bluGill 7y ago

The problem is they need to create the demand. Anybody who wants to get around and checks transit knows it isn't an option so they find an alternative. If CalTran wants to be useful transit for more than commuters (My understanding as someone not in the area is CalTran runs only a few trips during rush hour - if I'm wrong that invalidates some of my reply...) they need to run more service for a while so people start to think they can count on it.

zamfi 7y ago
Lots of people take Caltrain to commute, and commute trains are often standing room only. But almost no one takes Caltrain at non-commute hours.
- bluGill 7y ago
  I just pulled up the schedule, just looking at the schedule I can confidently tell you that the only people taking CalTrain are going to work or have no other choice: From 10-11 am there is 1 stop at most stations/direction. Trains and buses that only run once an hour midday exist only for those who have no choice: those unable to drive (generally disabled - blind). You need to run at least every half an hour to even think about getting people who are not going to work. People going to work generally can adjust their schedule enough to make hourly work and once they figure it out they don't have to think about it again. Also those going to work generally have very heavy traffic as the alternative. If you want a train/bus to be used by people who have a choice you must run not less than ever half hour for 16 hours a day. The more often you run the more people who will ride, up to about 5 minutes where everybody knows you can just show up and get on. (unfortunately the amount of extra riders you get from coming more often isn't linear so you sometimes cannot justify coming more often by the amount of extra riders you get) Note, there is a 2 year lag between changes in routes/schedules and riders figuring out the new routes. I think Caltrain could get a lot more non-commute hour riders by coming more often but if you push them to make sure you make everybody aware that it will be 2 years before there is a change.