BayRail is just small group of unexpert transit advocates with no data.

Published Thursday, December 29, 2005, in the Gilroy Dispatch

Letter to the editor

Dear Editor,

I went to the meeting that Margaret Okuzumi held to prepare their
"plan" as an alternative to BART.

While the small group of transit advocates seemed well-meaning, none
of them had expertise, and simply were drawing lines on a map -
completely without data or information to make informed decisions on a
multi-billion dollar rail line.

I learned that the "Caltrain Metro East" project's $1.5 billion price
tag is a guesstimate that is based on old construction information!

Further, this plan would require an impossible level of
synchronization between BART, Caltrain, and ACE. To call this
"back-of-a-napkin" plan a real alternative to BART is an incredible
stretch, and one that I certainly could not take seriously.

It underscores why Ms. Okuzumi's plan has not been endorsed by a
single objective and independent transportation professional at the
US. Department of Transportation, CalTrans, the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission, the VTA, or even Caltrain.

These are serious issues in difficult times, and we need serious plans
-- not smokescreens.

Andrew Papson
San Mateo



[BATN: And then what should the Senior Research Fellows of the
BATN Institute just happen to stumble upon on the SVLG's web site but...
<http://www.svlg.net/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=\
161>

"As a transportation coordinator, I learned about the industry in
general, but also had the chance to contribute to several important
local projects. My work on a transportation technology project
opened my eyes to new possibilities in the field. By helping to
orchestrate the test pilot for GPS traffic system, I learned about
new directions for my transportation career. My internship with the
Leadership Group gave me new opportunities."

-- Andrew Papson, Transportation Coordinator

Well, surprise surprise!

It seems Mr Papson learned some Valuable Life Lessons from his
internship with San Jose's Titans of Industry, lessons that will
doubtless serve him very well in the future.]