ACE Selected to Operate New Valley Link Service

Press release from The Tri-Valley – San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority:

January 5, 2021

Livermore, CA, December 29, 2020 – At their December Board meeting, the Tri-Valley–San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority voted to enter into an arrangement with the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) to manage the operation of future Valley Link commuter rail service connecting the Tri-Valley with the San Joaquin Valley. The SJRRC has served as the policy-making body for the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) service for more than 20 years and took a similar action at their December Board meeting.

The Regional Rail Authority Board noted a number of reasons why the Memorandum of Understanding with SJRRC was advantageous for the Valley Link project, including an exemplary safety record in managing the operations of both the ACE commuter rail service for over 20 years and the Amtrak San Joaquins for over 7 years.

Speaking about the agreement, Rail Authority Board Chair Scott Haggerty noted “One of the reasons that I am excited about this, having served on the ACE Board for 24 years, is that there is a trust factor knowing that ACE is one of the premier rail lines in the State of California if not the entire United States. Entering into the agreement at this early point in the project enables SJRRC to provide input into project development and achieve safe, efficient and cost effective operations.”

Veronica Vargas, current Rail Authority Vice-Chair, noted, “A key Valley Link goal is project implementation that is fast, cost-effective and responsive to the goals and objectives of the communities it will serve. Valley Link is essential to our post-pandemic economic recovery and I believe this partnership with ACE will help us to meet our goals and support our communities and struggling workforce.”

Under the terms of the MOU, the Regional Rail Authority Board remains the owner of the Valley Link service and is responsible for all governance and project funding, policies, planning, development, implementation and service decisions.

# # #

More about the Tri-Valley – San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority
The Tri-Valley – San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority was created by the California Legislature in 2017 with the passage of Assembly Bill 758, co-authored by Assemblywoman Catharine Baker, R-San Ramon and Assemblywoman Susan Eggman, D-Stockton. The authority’s primary purpose is to plan, develop and deliver cost-effective transit connectivity between the San Joaquin Valley and the Bay Area.

The Authority is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by its 15-member agencies, including: the Town of Danville, the cities of San Ramon, Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore, Tracy, Manteca, Lathrop and Stockton, the Mountain House Community Services District, the counties of Alameda and San Joaquin, the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA), the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE). The following page contains a list of the appointed board members.The proposed Valley Link project includes seven stations along 42 miles of track, connecting the existing Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station to the proposed ACE North Lathrop Station. Trains would be scheduled to allow for convenient transfers to BART. The first Valley Link trains could be placed into service in 2028.

Valley Link will carry 33,000 passengers a day in 2040, reducing vehicle miles travelled by 99.3 million each year, and eliminating between 33,000 to 42,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) per year depending on the vehicle technology selected. Currently, the Regional Rail Authority is considering three technologies that include two zero emission technologies; battery/electric and hydrogen.

The passenger rail project will have a significant impact on the regional economy. A recent Economic Impact Study performed by PGH Wong found that during construction Valley Link will create 22,000 jobs with an economic impact on the region of $3.5 billion. Additionally, during service, Valley Link will create 400 jobs and an economic impact of $69 million per year.
Additional information on the Tri-Valley – San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority, is available on the Regional Rail Authority’s website at www.valleylinkrail.com.

This press release was produced by The Tri-Valley – San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority. The views expressed here are the author's own.