Caltrain Rail Yard Hide and Seek
The sexy part of redevelopment proposals are their hope, promise of sunnier prosperous days, and optimism for a better city. Relocating the orginal tenants or companies, even a railyard, is the challenge, and much less sexy to talk about. Continuing our analysis of the Caltrain Railyard Development Proposal, we look at where the 4th & King Railyard could or should go.
When the Mayor's Office suggested "Let's be San Francisco and Take Down the Freeway", they provocatively, yet compellingly, proposed tearing down I-280 north of 16th Street and
converting the 30 acre Fourth and King railyard into a high density mixed-use neighborhood. Also mentioned, but less emphasized were proposed new more efficient Downtown Extension (DTX) tunnel realignments. What was missing was a study of where to relocate the railyards.
Avoiding the sticky issue of where to relocate the railyard is understandable. When proposing a new idea, especially one as striking and compelling as removing the freeway and yard to reconnect neighborhoods, deciding where the railyard will go distracts from the benefits of the proposal. That said, determining a railyard site is critical, and must be included in the analysis of whether or not to tear down the freeway or to build housing and other development on the 4th & King Railyard site.
If the railyards were relocated, there are a few locations that might work, but two issues are critical to a railyard:
I took a quick scan of several high speed rail equipment and maintenance facilities the UK, USA, and France. Due to the geometries of rail lines, a railyard is often NOT shaped like the rectangle shaped 4th & King Railyard. Most are actually shoehorned alongside existing rail right of ways, and have more of a diamond shape if trains enter and exit at both ends (see first image below), or more like a triangle if the yard dead ends and only has one entrance/exit (see second image below).
So where to place the Caltrain yard, High Speed Rail yard, or both. Should it be a triangle shape, or diamond shape or both?
The options that would allow for redeveloping the current yard and reconnecting the neighborhoods are: 4th & King Railyard, Central Waterfront, Bayview, and Brisbane.
SoMa/4th & King at grade (basically existing)
Keep the railyard at grade. Designate tracks for Caltrain storage and HSR storage. Maintenance Facility would also be located here.
Opportunity: Close to terminal station (Transbay Center) 1.4 miles. Land is already owned and can be easily reconfigured for new facilities. Affordable.
Challenge: Opportunity to knit neighborhoods together is lost. Revenue from development potential is never gained. In addition, an above grade elevated decked development is infeasible.
SoMa/4th & King Underground Yard
Build the railyard in a trench, below grade. Build a deck over the yard and facility at grade. Build development on deck. The idea has been successfully built, most famously at Grand Central Terminal in New York City.
Opportunity: close to terminal station (Transbay Center) 1.4 miles. Allows for at-grade development.
Challenge: Very expensive. Development above may not generate sufficient funds to pay for trench yard and decking.
Central Waterfront/Woods Yard
At the 22nd Street station, the tracks are at grade and could have a spur track go to a facility where the current Muni Woods Division diesel bus yard. The site would likely be between 22nd St and 24th St and would likely require removing Iowa Street between 22nd and 24th Streets.
Opportunity: 2.4 miles away, which is still relatively close. The bus yard is owned by the city so it could be transferred more easily. However a new bus yard site would need to be found. The new Caltrain facility (CEMOF) in San Jose measures about 0.25 miles long and 275 feet wide. This would fit into most of the Woods location, i.e. sufficiently large to accommodate Caltrain.
Challenge: Only big enough for a Caltrain facility, not enough room for a high speed rail maintenance facility. The CAHSR facility would have to be located elsewhere due to needing more land for its longer train sets. Some land taking may be required south of 23rd Street. Due to the hill and the partially trench of the current tracks, some excavation may be require for a yard.
Central Waterfront/Pier 80
A Track or two would lead to Pier 80 on a viaduct (or a trench?). The railyard would use the open land at Pier 80 site, which is sufficiently large for an HSR and possibly also a Caltrain railyard.
Opportunity: 3.6 miles away, which is not too far. The pier is owned by the Port of San Francisco (effectively the city) so it could be transferred more easily. The site is very large adequate land is available. If there is sufficient land, HSR/Caltrain could have some light freight transfers to shipping.
Challenge: The site is not immediately adjacent to the to the Caltrain tracks. A viaduct spur route would be required to access Pier 80, including crossing Third Street. The current value and use of Pier 80 is unknown to me, so I don't know if it still requires the large asphalt area beside it. IF the pier asphalt area is underutilized there would be less of a problem and the pier could still be used for shipping. If a railyard required removal of the port facilities, one of the last San Francisco container facilities would be removed.
(Does the America's Cup have any dibs on any of Pier 80's facilities?)
Bayview/Evans Ave
Alongside the existing railway, a spur rail would bear north near Jerrold Ave to a rail yard and maintenance facility that would go as far north as Davidson Ave. Due to the importance of Evans Ave, it would remain but cross the rail facility as an elevated viaduct.
Opportunity: 3.6 miles away, this facility requires no spur rail connection to reach the main line. In addition, it is ideally shaped in a triangle. Also, the site may be sufficiently large for both Caltrain and HSR train sets.
Challenge: The site would require some taking of property. It is also adjacent to a City water treatment facility. Some of the buildings on the site outlined may be city water buildings.
Bayview/Newcomb Ave
A mirror idea to the Evans Ave alternative. This sight may be slightly larger than the Evans Ave alternative.
Opportunity: 3.6 miles away, the site would be alongside the tracks just like the Evans Ave alternative, providing easy access for trains.
Challenge: Caltrain/CAHSR would need to purchase the property. Alternate locations for the businesses are not clear. More of the site is divided up by puplic streets than the Evans Ave alternative.
Bayview/Cargo Way
A Track or two would lead to the Cargo Way site, near Piers 90-96 on a viaduct. The railyard would use the "Pier 90-94 Backlands" open land beside Cargo Way, which is sufficiently large for an HSR and possibly also a Caltrain railyard. The current uses would be relocated and compensated for displacement.
Opportunity: 4.3 miles away, the site is farther than preferred, but operable. The area is likely owned by the Port of San Francisco (effectively the city) so it could be transferred more easily. The site is very large adequate land is available. If there is sufficient land, HSR/Caltrain could have some light freight transfers to shipping. The Port seems to want to put this land to other use than its current use - why not a rail yard?
Challenge: The site is not immediately adjacent to the to the Caltrain tracks. A viaduct spur route would be required to access the site, including an overcrossing at Third Street. The current value and use of the Cargo Way area is unknown to me, so I don't know if it still requires the large gravel and soil site. Port and shipping operations would still remain.
Bayshore/Schlage
A larger version of Evans Ave and Newcomb Ave facilities. The facility would lie in both San Francisco and Brisbane (in San Mateo County)
Opportunity: 6 miles away, the site would be alongside the tracks just like the Evans Ave alternative, providing easy access for trains. The site could be the largest railyard proposal listed here.
Challenge: At 6 miles distance, the deadhead "out of service" trains would reduce capacity and productivity. Caltrain/CAHSR would need to purchase the property. In addition, at 6 miles distance, trains would operate on long deadheads when they go to the facility. However, the City of Brisbane does not want a railyard built here, so this might kill the alternative.
In summary, a study of these sites and others needs to be conducted to determine the viability of all these sites for a Caltrain and a high speed rail yard and maintenance facility. That includes studying the current 4th & King site to see if it is sufficient.
For comparison, here are the distances of maintenance facilities and yards from some other major train stations with high speed rail and other commuter rail services:
Paris Gare du Nord: 1.4 miles
Paris Gare Montparnasse: 2.5 miles
London St. Pancreas: 7 miles
Washington DC Union Station: 0.86 miles
Los Angeles Union Station (Amtrak): 3 miles
San Jose Diridon Station: 0.6 miles
Based on the limited information, I would say that using the Bayview Evans or Bayview Newcomb sites, in tandem with a Woods Division site would be the most amenable. In addition the Cargo Way site seems attractive since the Port of San Francisco is looking for a tenant. All that needs to happen now is for San Francisco, Caltrain and California HSR Authority to call their real estate brokers and bankers.
As an addendum, here's the section of the Transbay Terminal/Caltrain Downtown Extension FEIS that covers the viability of a Brisbane Yard:
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| Technicentre Atlantique in Chatillon, France. Note Montparnasse Tower (top right) where Montparnasse Station is located. Image: Wikipedia |
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| Caltrain Centralized Equipment Maintenance and Operations Facility. Image: Caltrain |
If the railyards were relocated, there are a few locations that might work, but two issues are critical to a railyard:
- 1: Proximity to the terminal station (Transbay Center)
- 1 to 3 miles away is good
- 3 to 6 miles is impractical but feasible
- 2: Large site
- length ranging from 1/2 mile to 1 mile long
- minimum 600 feet wide
I took a quick scan of several high speed rail equipment and maintenance facilities the UK, USA, and France. Due to the geometries of rail lines, a railyard is often NOT shaped like the rectangle shaped 4th & King Railyard. Most are actually shoehorned alongside existing rail right of ways, and have more of a diamond shape if trains enter and exit at both ends (see first image below), or more like a triangle if the yard dead ends and only has one entrance/exit (see second image below).
Technicentre (Yard and Maintenance) TGV Atlantique, Chatillon, France (left),
Technicentre (Yard and Maintenance) TGV Le Landy, St. Denis, France (right) Images: Google Maps using Maps Engine
So where to place the Caltrain yard, High Speed Rail yard, or both. Should it be a triangle shape, or diamond shape or both?
The options that would allow for redeveloping the current yard and reconnecting the neighborhoods are: 4th & King Railyard, Central Waterfront, Bayview, and Brisbane.
SoMa/4th & King at grade (basically existing)
Keep the railyard at grade. Designate tracks for Caltrain storage and HSR storage. Maintenance Facility would also be located here.
Opportunity: Close to terminal station (Transbay Center) 1.4 miles. Land is already owned and can be easily reconfigured for new facilities. Affordable.
Challenge: Opportunity to knit neighborhoods together is lost. Revenue from development potential is never gained. In addition, an above grade elevated decked development is infeasible.
SoMa/4th & King Underground Yard
Build the railyard in a trench, below grade. Build a deck over the yard and facility at grade. Build development on deck. The idea has been successfully built, most famously at Grand Central Terminal in New York City.
Opportunity: close to terminal station (Transbay Center) 1.4 miles. Allows for at-grade development.
Challenge: Very expensive. Development above may not generate sufficient funds to pay for trench yard and decking.
 |
| Woods Division. Image: Wikipedia |
At the 22nd Street station, the tracks are at grade and could have a spur track go to a facility where the current Muni Woods Division diesel bus yard. The site would likely be between 22nd St and 24th St and would likely require removing Iowa Street between 22nd and 24th Streets.
Opportunity: 2.4 miles away, which is still relatively close. The bus yard is owned by the city so it could be transferred more easily. However a new bus yard site would need to be found. The new Caltrain facility (CEMOF) in San Jose measures about 0.25 miles long and 275 feet wide. This would fit into most of the Woods location, i.e. sufficiently large to accommodate Caltrain.
Challenge: Only big enough for a Caltrain facility, not enough room for a high speed rail maintenance facility. The CAHSR facility would have to be located elsewhere due to needing more land for its longer train sets. Some land taking may be required south of 23rd Street. Due to the hill and the partially trench of the current tracks, some excavation may be require for a yard.
 |
| Muni Woods Division diesel bus yard. Image: Google Maps |
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| Pier 80. Image: Daver6sf@yahoo.com on Flickr.com |
A Track or two would lead to Pier 80 on a viaduct (or a trench?). The railyard would use the open land at Pier 80 site, which is sufficiently large for an HSR and possibly also a Caltrain railyard.
Opportunity: 3.6 miles away, which is not too far. The pier is owned by the Port of San Francisco (effectively the city) so it could be transferred more easily. The site is very large adequate land is available. If there is sufficient land, HSR/Caltrain could have some light freight transfers to shipping.
Challenge: The site is not immediately adjacent to the to the Caltrain tracks. A viaduct spur route would be required to access Pier 80, including crossing Third Street. The current value and use of Pier 80 is unknown to me, so I don't know if it still requires the large asphalt area beside it. IF the pier asphalt area is underutilized there would be less of a problem and the pier could still be used for shipping. If a railyard required removal of the port facilities, one of the last San Francisco container facilities would be removed.
(Does the America's Cup have any dibs on any of Pier 80's facilities?)
 |
| Pier 80 rail yard and access spur. Image: Google Maps |
Alongside the existing railway, a spur rail would bear north near Jerrold Ave to a rail yard and maintenance facility that would go as far north as Davidson Ave. Due to the importance of Evans Ave, it would remain but cross the rail facility as an elevated viaduct.
Opportunity: 3.6 miles away, this facility requires no spur rail connection to reach the main line. In addition, it is ideally shaped in a triangle. Also, the site may be sufficiently large for both Caltrain and HSR train sets.
Challenge: The site would require some taking of property. It is also adjacent to a City water treatment facility. Some of the buildings on the site outlined may be city water buildings.
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| Newcomb Yard (red), Evans Yard (orange), Cargo Way Yard (yellow). Image: Google Maps |
A mirror idea to the Evans Ave alternative. This sight may be slightly larger than the Evans Ave alternative.
Opportunity: 3.6 miles away, the site would be alongside the tracks just like the Evans Ave alternative, providing easy access for trains.
Challenge: Caltrain/CAHSR would need to purchase the property. Alternate locations for the businesses are not clear. More of the site is divided up by puplic streets than the Evans Ave alternative.
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| The Evans Ave Yard would be bounded by Quint and Davidson. The Newcomb Ave Yard would be bounded by Selby St/I-280 and Newcomb. Image: Bing Maps |
A Track or two would lead to the Cargo Way site, near Piers 90-96 on a viaduct. The railyard would use the "Pier 90-94 Backlands" open land beside Cargo Way, which is sufficiently large for an HSR and possibly also a Caltrain railyard. The current uses would be relocated and compensated for displacement.
Opportunity: 4.3 miles away, the site is farther than preferred, but operable. The area is likely owned by the Port of San Francisco (effectively the city) so it could be transferred more easily. The site is very large adequate land is available. If there is sufficient land, HSR/Caltrain could have some light freight transfers to shipping. The Port seems to want to put this land to other use than its current use - why not a rail yard?
Challenge: The site is not immediately adjacent to the to the Caltrain tracks. A viaduct spur route would be required to access the site, including an overcrossing at Third Street. The current value and use of the Cargo Way area is unknown to me, so I don't know if it still requires the large gravel and soil site. Port and shipping operations would still remain.
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| Pier 90-96 with "Backlands" in center. Pier 80 is on the top of the image. Image: Bing Maps |
| Aerial Photo and Context of Piers 80-96 including the Cargo Way site "Backlands". Image: SFPort.com |
A larger version of Evans Ave and Newcomb Ave facilities. The facility would lie in both San Francisco and Brisbane (in San Mateo County)
Opportunity: 6 miles away, the site would be alongside the tracks just like the Evans Ave alternative, providing easy access for trains. The site could be the largest railyard proposal listed here.
Challenge: At 6 miles distance, the deadhead "out of service" trains would reduce capacity and productivity. Caltrain/CAHSR would need to purchase the property. In addition, at 6 miles distance, trains would operate on long deadheads when they go to the facility. However, the City of Brisbane does not want a railyard built here, so this might kill the alternative.
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| Yard on the location of the former Schlage Factory and old railyard up to Geneva Ave. Image: Google Maps |
For comparison, here are the distances of maintenance facilities and yards from some other major train stations with high speed rail and other commuter rail services:
Paris Gare du Nord: 1.4 miles
Paris Gare Montparnasse: 2.5 miles
London St. Pancreas: 7 miles
Washington DC Union Station: 0.86 miles
Los Angeles Union Station (Amtrak): 3 miles
San Jose Diridon Station: 0.6 miles
Based on the limited information, I would say that using the Bayview Evans or Bayview Newcomb sites, in tandem with a Woods Division site would be the most amenable. In addition the Cargo Way site seems attractive since the Port of San Francisco is looking for a tenant. All that needs to happen now is for San Francisco, Caltrain and California HSR Authority to call their real estate brokers and bankers.
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| Eurostar Temple Mills Maintenance Facility. Image: CJMarsden |
As an addendum, here's the section of the Transbay Terminal/Caltrain Downtown Extension FEIS that covers the viability of a Brisbane Yard:
2.3.3 CALTRAIN STORAGE YARD LOCATED IN BRISBANE
An alternative to the Fourth and Townsend location proposed for a Caltrain midday storage and
layover yard was a site at the former Bayshore Yard in Brisbane. This potential yard site was
withdrawn from further consideration because of its distance from the proposed new Caltrain
terminal. "Deadhead" time (the amount of time the train would be operated out of revenue
service) would have been at least three and one-half times greater than the time to the current
Caltrain facility, adding substantially to Caltrain operating costs and adversely affecting the
ability to operate efficient and safe train service at anticipated levels of service.
Seems obvious, that with the possible exception of the first one or two options you listed, the best idea is to leave the yard at its current location. Simplest, easiest, cheapest, best!
ReplyDeleteOne person I spoke with said that a yard and facility in the Bayview that COMBINED the Evans and Newcombe sites would probably be best. The mainline tracks would either bisect the sideyards, or the tracks would bend around to the side of the yard.
ReplyDeleteThe bayview evans site is a bad idea for one major reason- the SFPUC is planning to move its nuisance of a water treatment plant from bordering residential areas to that triangular area. It's really a social justice issue- the stinky, nuisance treatment site was forced on the the Bayview 3 or 4 decades ago and promised it wouldn't smell. broken promises as the place smells and is adjacent to homes (jsut go to flora grubb on a warm day). pick another location for the railyard, please. besides the railyard is being moved to accomodate high priced condos in the SOMA and the Bayview gets dumped on again...
ReplyDeleteDear Social Justice,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment and the information. Could you point me to information about the SFPUC water treatment plant regarding the history and the move you mention. Regardless of the railyard issue, would relocating the treatment site really change the smell issues, even if there are assurances the new site won't smell?
Regarding housing, where and how would you suggest San Francisco create more housing for all economic groups?
All in all, I would rather not have a railyard in the Bayview either. I think the Bayshore/Brisbane area is the best of a series of bad options. London's railyard for St. Pancreas Station is equally distant and I imagine that's working out alright.
The only idea I thought of but didn't mention for storing train sets (but not the maintenance facility) would be to create a wider rail right of way through San Francisco, including a wider tunnel through Potrero Hill (e.g. 4-5 tracks of tunnels) and through the Bayview. This would not take up nearly as much space as the railyards I have described in the post, but would allow for trains to be stored closer to the Transbay and 4th & King stations.