Published Wednesday, January 4, 2006, in the Peninsula Examiner

"All aboard" may go digital
Caltrain officials to vote on real-time information system

By Edward Carpenter

It's the 6 a.m. morning commute; do you know where your train is?
Finding out could get easier for Caltrain riders under a proposed
real-time transit information system.

The $3.6 million [BATN: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!] system, if approved, will
bring live arrival and departure information to nine Peninsula
Caltrain stations, making it easier for riders to plan their
schedules, officials said. Bus stops at each of the nine stations,
plus the Daly City Caltrain station and Colma BART station, will also
be served. Caltrain's board of directors will vote Thursday on
whether to approve the plan in concept.

"Oh yes, we are in favor of real-time transit information," said
Margaret Okuzumi, executive director of BayRail Alliance, a transit
consumer group based on the Peninsula. "It's a good thing for riders
because it's sometimes hard for customers to hear the announcements
over the loud speakers."

Of the $3.6 million for the real-time system, an estimated $2.7
million will come from a Bay Area bridge toll increase approved by
voters in March 2004, with $721,000 to come from the federal
government and $261,000 from local sources, officials said.

Riders at San Francisco, Millbrae, San Mateo, Redwood City, Palo Alto,
Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and San Jose Diridon Caltrain
stations will benefit from the upgrades first. Expansions to other
stations and to major bus routes could be approved in the future,
depending on commuter feedback, costs and performance,
Caltrain/SamTrans spokesman Jonah Weinberg said.

"The clear advantage is [our riders] will know when their bus is going
to arrive, not just based on the schedule, but based on real-time
conditions," Weinberg said. That includes the latest information
related to weather and mechanical issues. "They're not going to be
sitting there wondering."

Kiosks with liquid crystal displays and audio capabilities will be
added at the stations to provide arrival and departure information for
the next three incoming trains within the hour, officials said.

Adding the kiosks, predominately at so-called multimodal stations,
will also allow Caltrain and SamTrans to better coordinate services,
Weinberg said. "The interconnectivity of transit systems throughout
the Bay Area is really key to offering people a simpler and more
convenient commute," Weinberg said. "By taking advantage of the
technology that is out there we can help people get to work, get to
the movies or any other place they want to go."

The real-time system will be required to be 95 percent accurate, 90
percent of the time, officials said.