Council member backs off long-time wish; city may pursue water taxis instead
City Councilmember Alan Schwartzman has been a long-time advocate of a train station in Benicia, one that would make it so travelers wouldn’t have to go to Martinez or Fairfield-Suisun City to travel to Sacramento or San Jose on the Capitol Corridor.
On weekdays, the eastbound Capitol Corridor passes Benicia 15 times a day, and another 15 trains pass the city headed west. On Saturdays and Sundays, 11 Capitol Corridor trains go each way.
But Benicians who want to ride the Capitol Corridor currently must board at the Martinez or Fairfield-Suisun stations.
Other trains roll through the area, too. Four daily long-distance Amtrak trains carry passengers along routes to Southern California, the Pacific Northwest or east to Chicago through Solano County without making a stop.
Nonetheless, after an update to the Solano Rail Facilities Plan released by the Solano Transportation Authority (STA) at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Schwartzman finally, if reluctantly, conceded there was little hope for his dream.
Robert Macaulay, STA director of planning, reviewed a summary of the authority’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan Update, and asked the Council to make sure its priority projects were included in the latest revision.
Macaulay explained that under current standards, train stations aren’t likely to be built if they would be within five miles of another established station. An exception is one designed in the Fairfield-Vacaville area that is expected to be built, Macaulay said, because it already had been started before the five-mile restriction was set.
Benicia Public Works Director Graham Wadsworth said the Rail Facilities Plan includes information about a proposed new rail bridge that would span Suisun Bay and be high enough to clear ship traffic. The current bridge has a center span that rises to accommodate tall projections on ships traveling to and from the Sacramento River and the Pacific Ocean. If the new bridge is built, the span would still be in the air when it went past the Lake Herman Road site that has been designated for the depot.
Another concern is rising waters caused by climate change.
The STA rail facilities update, a separate document, was written by Menzies and McCrossan with RailPros, Nancy Whelan Consulting, Hughes Environmental Consultants and Professional Engineering and Survey. It is the latest update to a 1995 report.
Since the earlier report was released, the latest revision noted, both Union Pacific Railroad and passenger operators have expressed concern about train movement reliability and delays at Benicia imposed by ship traffic through the existing movable-span rail bridge.
“They are actively exploring alternatives for a high-level, passenger-only crossing,” the new report said.
The bridge is considered a major project, going beyond the 10-year horizon of the current STA rail facilities update. But if it is built, the report said, “It would, by necessity, bypass any of the downtown Benicia locations reviewed in the 1995 plan.
“In addition, the Capitol Corridor station criteria adopted since the 1995 plan was prepared require a minimum of five-mile station spacing, and proximity to the Martinez station would eliminate all but the Lake Herman Road location,” the revised rail plan said.
But that site is “likely impacted by future sea level rise. This was not a major consideration or concern at the time of the previous rail facilities plan 20 years ago, but is a significant issue now and in the future.”
Though no new site is under consideration — the Fairfield-Vacaville station isn’t considered new, even though it hasn’t yet been built — if an additional Capitol Corridor stop is added in Solano County it should be in Dixon, the report said, because that city already has an existing depot.
In fact, the report recommended carrying that project forward into the next Solano Rail Facilities Plan revision, which will be done between 2020 and 2025.
Dixon-area agencies have invested substantially in that city’s downtown station site, the report said. Among its features are a 140-space park-and-ride lot that provides for electric vehicle power charging; an existing, classic downtown depot building that would accommodate passenger needs; and the elimination of a safety concern with the grade separation of West B Street’s crossing under the downtown station’s tracks. The site also has capacity for future center island platform access through the undercrossing.
Dixon officials addressed concerns expressed by Union Pacific and Capitol Corridor operators about the proximity of the potential downtown station platform to a major city thoroughfare by designing the grade separation of the A Street crossing of the tracks.
“I’d really love a train station in town, but I know when it’s time to give up,” Schwartzman said Tuesday after hearing Macaulay and Wadsworth, and after reading the STA rail update for himself. “We don’t have a really good spot for a station.”
The news was a relief to Councilmember Tom Campbell, who said, “I’ve been trying to get it off the list since 2003.”
However, Mayor Elizabeth Patterson said updates to neither the transportation plan nor the rail facilities plan addressed “a vision for the county” regarding rail transportation. “What do we think the role of rail plays, both passenger and freight rail?” she asked, adding that such subjects should be included “so we speak with one voice.”
The conversation was part of the Council’s consideration of STA’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan Update, a document that identifies and sets priorities for the transportation of the county’s needs through 2040. Macauley said Benicia’s own priorities needed to be included in the plan.
Among the projects completed since the city compiled a wish list in 2009 are the I-780-Southampton Road-West Seventh Street interchange connection; First Street landscaping; Park Road bicycle and pedestrian improvements; the Rose Drive bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing; improved bus shelters; the consolidation of bus service into SolTrans; and the new transfer and park-and-ride projects at Military and First Street and Military West and Southampton Road.
Six new projects and a revision of one project held over from 2009 were approved unanimously by the Council this week for inclusion in the transportation plan update, a necessary vote if the city is to seek regional grants and other funding.
Those new projects are a Military West and West Seventh Street intersection; improvements on Park Road between Sulphur Springs Creek and Industrial Way that will be part of the bus hub project being built there, Park Road between Oak Road and a new roadway near the Benicia Arsenal; more citywide bicycle improvements that have been included in the General Plan; more walkway improvements that also are listed in the General Plan; and additional traffic calming changes.
Wadsworth also recommended promoting a Columbus Parkway Reliever Route project from Tier 2 to Tier 1 priority.
Another modification is to stop seeking ferry service for Benicia, and instead set water taxi service as a priority. “Ferries are hard to do,” Patterson said, though she didn’t rule out a ferry as a goal in the years ahead. But for the near future, “A water taxi makes more sense,” she said.
By dropping the drive for a train station, Benicia might be in better shape to push for a water taxi, City Manager Brad Kilger said.
“I believe in response, we should say that we acknowledge the challenges (of trying to establish the train station),” Kilger said. The city then should express its strong support for a water taxi instead.
Along those lines, “we’ll do countywide water transit plans,” Macauley promised. “It’s important to you and to Rio Vista.”
“That’s really cool,” Councilmember Christina Strawbridge said. Agreeing that all could agree with dropping the drive for the train station, she said, “The water taxi makes sense.”
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A train station in Benicia was never really a good idea. How many riders per day are from Benicia now, in either direction? Of course, we have to pay the extra $5 tax to use the Martinez station.
It’s sad how underserved the Far East Bay is in regards to ferry service. Rio Vista (or Fairfield), Antioch, Pittsburg, Benicia to San Francisco. Water taxi from Martinez to Benicia. Just look at the Hwy 4 commute every morning, BART ridership increases – there’s some pent up demand for transportation services in the Far East Bay
This City is years away from a strong Water Taxi system. Will it be for tourism or commute use. At present there is not the infrastructure in all those other -place in the east bay to support a Water Taxi System. I am very familiar with that system. Baltimore has one but it is supported by entertainment, business and the tourist destination of the inter harbor. We over estimate the value in transportation to the east bay areas.. The Martinez area and other so csalled destinatiion will have to make it happen. At present it is a dream that is years away. My big concern is it will happen at a great expense with no results. Want another CODA.
A high speed water taxi service from Benicia to SF is feasible, in my opinion. I believe there are commuters who would pay more for high speed service. The early days of the passenger ferry from Vallejo saw them throwing a rooster tail at full throttle. Problem was that the wake signature was causing damage to municipal marinas, and especially to operations being conducted at MINSY. People were severely injured while working on waterborne craft that were heaved by the wakes. The ferries were slowed down and subsequent designs addressed wake signature. Now hydro-foil technology is demonstrating higher speed small wake transportation.
Here is an amusing clip of a Bayliner turned hydro-foil.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w54-OEWulDE
Stan, I believe a logical plan for this would be for the city to build the infrastructure (dock, small marina, jetty) to serve as a marine-cab stand. Then private parties could offer the transportation services. The private parties would be required to get a permit and pay usage fees for the infrastructure. It could be developed like Uber, but, for water transport. It could even expand to small freight service, as well.
That is not new. But dream on.It is not in any plans in the near future. Just as I said at present it is a dream.
It is brand new and original idea. Quite feasible, as well. It will happen soon. As I said, a logical plan.
Just enlarge the pier at 9th street, restroom, and parking lot already there, good place for a cafe/bar too.
RKJ. Or, at the end of 5th, as well. There is already parking as part of the Marina. I think I would make it requisite that participating boats be diesel powered. Then a program where the restaurants in participating cities can recycle cooking oil for biodiesel production. The restaurants would receive a credit, as part of the program. Participating cities would include Benicia, Martinez, Antioch, Vallejo as well as Mare Island. Also, the pending Mare Island hotel/resort development, will be a great contributed to the program, as visiting folks could explore the straight on lovely summer afternoons
To the second commenter; as to the answer to your first question. Yes.
As to the second. The Uber model would qualify here as far as a fresher model.
As to your third point, thank you for the geography lesson.
As to your fourth point. Was there ever a claim that this was a new or original idea?
As to you fourth point. Better yet, prove that there is not.
As to your fifth point. There really is no originality on your part here.
Bob,
Anything is possible when spending other people’s money.
Dennis that is correct. The issue is not if it will happen but when. Thomas thinks it will happen much sooner. The grant money along with the planning puts this project much farther down the road than the dreamers think it will happen. Do I believe it will happen, maybe. Remember they are talking about connecting to Martinez and the Vallejo Ferry. Believe me there will be a study first then a plan. All done with grant money.
It will happen soon. Give us all the timetable for this original idea. Soon to me means it is already in the -planning stage. I see no plans. So give us all your insight on what soon means.
Could a Water Taxi system in Benica work? Yers. But it is years away. Does anyone know how many folks commute from Benica to SF. I doubt that. What about the schedule and the stop or stops. Is it from 5:00Am till 8:PM work days? What about weekends. How many taxis will it take? Is this dream issue about commuters or tourism or both. This would be a huge undertaking with a lot of money needed to move this forward. This is not a small project. This city coukld not support this proposal at present. If tourism is a part of this issue we have even a much longer planning stage to make this happen. We must be realistic to the future of our city first. Get our econ ,future fixed first which will have a big part for tourism.. When we reach the City goal of making this City fully sustainable financially and all the residents want/services are in place for the future then you start planning on all the goodies. That is not in -place at present . The 2016 election could fix that. This City is now starting to understand that we are more a part of the East Bay than the rest of Solano County. Once the future econ is fixed and services are all supported and set for future needs we can start on our dreams. We all would like a Water Taxi. But just who is going to pay for it? Oh I know a $5.00 add on to the bridge toll Try a $10.00 fee to cross the bridge. Now would that be smart? No, it would drive the tourist away very quickly. We have very few as it is and must keep them and add more. So it is simple econ development must happenand stop the Agenda Driven issues. The 2016 election will fix that.
The idea of enhanced water ferry services to Benicia has been around for at least 15 years.
Unfortunately both the demand and funding for this is lacking. Yes some vocal proponents may want it, just not enough.
It would not take much effort to determine how many Vallejo-SF ferry commuters are from Benicia, this demographic would give a reasonable starting point to asses demand for a Benicia-SF ferry service.
I found this letter to the editor on this idea to be of interest:
Benicia Does Too Want Ferries!
Dear Editor:
As the City Manager for the City of Benicia I was astounded to read the following in your August edition; “The City of Benicia is not interested in a ferry terminal….” Although it is true that the city is concentrating efforts on securing funding for a regional style intermodal train station, we have not abandoned our efforts or desire to secure a ferry terminal for Benicia.
Ferry service from Benicia remains the number one priority for our community. Benicia’s support for the Vallejo ferry service should not be confused with a lack of desire for our own service.
I encourage you to contact my office before printing any future articles regarding this topic.
Otto Wm Giuliani, City Manager
City of Benicia
Published: September, 2001
Very interesting Dennis. Dennis this is A DREAM that is on going. Would we all like that ferry/taxi? Maybe, maybe not. No one even considers the cost of this issue. The City will not even fund the CAP Co-ordfinator.When a City like Benicia is doing its best to correct issues in this City that need upgrades, repairs etc. TheWater Taxi / Ferry is for sure a dream for the near future. The futire on this is a long way off. Must have a private operator, liability, infrastructure , and for sure riders. I have seen nothing on any of this and do not expect to see anything going forward. I guess some agenda driven folks will try to do something. No money no taxi.. This city cannot even fill a bus to the Bart Stations. Please, stop this dream nonsense and get on with fixing the city immediate needs. How many times has the City Manager told you we are in need of money and will have to move on the priorities first. The Water Taxi does not even come lose. But there are some that think it is coming very soon.