BAY AREA KEEPS BUILDERS BUSY

The San Francisco Bay Area, rebounding from a recent economic slump that eroded ridership and ate into tax revenues that support many of its rail operations, continues to build. This article looks at some of the new projects that keep the sound of construction rarely absent from the 400 miles of passenger rail that serves the 7,000-square mile Bay Area. Half a dozen passenger rail operators are investing billions in ongoing expansion programs. Some of the major projects include: BART passed the 100-mile milestone when it opened an 8.7-mile, $1.17 billion extension; Caltrain added passing tracks and new cars and locomotives to introduce Baby Bullet express service; Santa Clara VTA added an 8.2-mile, $430 million Tasman East/Capitol Light rail extension to its existing system; and one of the nation's newest commuter rail services, the Altamont Commuter Express added a third train to relieve overcrowding.