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Thank You San Mateo County — The Rest of the Story
"When the mayors of San Francisco and San Jose spoke at the grand celebration in San Francisco on Aug. 10 at the historic roll out of Caltrain's electrified service, one would think that San Mateo County does not exist. They spoke of each of their cities as areas of importance and innovation, and why they are attractive to visit on Caltrain. The role of San Mateo County in preserving the Caltrain right of way so passenger rail service would exist, funding improvements to the system and regional transit, and operating the most efficiently run commuter rail service in the country was omitted — as was the role of companies based in San Mateo County that have forged innovation in the region, state, country and the world.
There was the deserved parade of elected officials including, a U.S. senator, the governor, congressional and state elected leaders who represent districts from San Francisco to San Jose, and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi who was critically important in supporting federal funding. Thank you, Congressman Mullin, and Assemblywoman Papan, for always mentioning your roots in our county.
From the founding of Caltrain in the 1990s to the present, San Mateo County leaders, and taxpayers have led the way. When Southern Pacific was abandoning passenger rail service, and the opportunity arose to purchase the rail right of way from San Francisco to the heart of San Jose, local funds were needed for the purchase. San Francisco and Santa Clara counties declined to contribute, so the San Mateo County Transit District not only invested San Mateo County taxpayer funds, but advanced on behalf of San Francisco and Santa Clara counties what they should have contributed. Later, the San Mateo County Transit District invested over $400 million dollars to bring BART into San Mateo County and establish the important regional transportation hub where Caltrain and BART meet in Millbrae.
No one made mention of San Mateo County taxpayers’ investment through a San Mateo County tax for the building of grade separations separating Caltrain tracks from roads in San Mateo County — perhaps because neither San Francisco nor Santa Clara invested any in their counties. No one mentioned that the San Mateo County Transit District, which manages Caltrain, created the most efficiently run, and seventh largest commuter rail service, in the country."
There was the deserved parade of elected officials including, a U.S. senator, the governor, congressional and state elected leaders who represent districts from San Francisco to San Jose, and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi who was critically important in supporting federal funding. Thank you, Congressman Mullin, and Assemblywoman Papan, for always mentioning your roots in our county.
From the founding of Caltrain in the 1990s to the present, San Mateo County leaders, and taxpayers have led the way. When Southern Pacific was abandoning passenger rail service, and the opportunity arose to purchase the rail right of way from San Francisco to the heart of San Jose, local funds were needed for the purchase. San Francisco and Santa Clara counties declined to contribute, so the San Mateo County Transit District not only invested San Mateo County taxpayer funds, but advanced on behalf of San Francisco and Santa Clara counties what they should have contributed. Later, the San Mateo County Transit District invested over $400 million dollars to bring BART into San Mateo County and establish the important regional transportation hub where Caltrain and BART meet in Millbrae.
No one made mention of San Mateo County taxpayers’ investment through a San Mateo County tax for the building of grade separations separating Caltrain tracks from roads in San Mateo County — perhaps because neither San Francisco nor Santa Clara invested any in their counties. No one mentioned that the San Mateo County Transit District, which manages Caltrain, created the most efficiently run, and seventh largest commuter rail service, in the country."
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To read more of Rosanne Foust and Jim Hartnett's
Guest Perspectives feature in The Daily Journal, please click here.