Category: Transportation

CalShuttle – The Future of Bay Area Transit

2033 (or sooner): Your Neighborhood Is Your Transit Station

By the early 2030s, CalShuttle shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs) will become the mode of public transit for the San Francisco Bay Area.

CalShuttle SAVs will provide transit that is: on-demand, point-to-point, fast, 24/7, resilient, robust, and scalable.

CalShuttle benefits will include: reduced traffic congestion and emissions; make full use of existing roadway infrastructure; eliminate the need for more highways or bridges; reduce household car ownership costs; reduce passenger and pedestrian injuries and death; improved mobility for older and disabled residents; enable conversion of street parking, parking lots, and garages to other community uses; and enable productive activities or resting while commuting.

For the complete picture, read the summary then the detailed report:

CalShuttle – Mike Forster – v3.6 – SummaryDownload
CalShuttle – Mike Forster – v3.6Download

Palo Alto – Caltrain Viaducts – A Better Approach and Showcase Opportunity

By Mike Forster, 2018 to 2025

This presentation shows the significant advantages of a viaduct or viaduct(s) and berm(s) for Palo Alto Caltrain (and High-Speed Rail) grade separations. Versions of this have been provided to the Palo Alto City Council from 2018 through 2025.

Palo Alto – Viaducts for Caltrain Grade Separations

A late alternative configuration not included in the above analysis could include a two-track viaduct for Caltrain (and High-Speed Rail) on the east side next to Alma, and a grade-level third track on the west side behind the homes along Park Blvd., for infrequent heavy freight and Caltrain maintenance.

Here is an essay regarding how Viaducts could be a showcase opportunity for Palo Alto, Caltrain, and California.

Caltrain Viaducts – A Showcase Opportunity