Wednesday midday rail news:
Bay Area city files objection to high speed rail plan
The city of Millbrae, Calif., has filed a “strenuous objection” to the environmental impact report filed by the California High Speed Rail Authority for the San Francisco-San Jose segment of the high speed project, saying in a press release that the plan “would destroy Millbrae’s smart growth plans and the city’s entire future.” The city says the report is riddled with oversights and omissions, disorganized, and violates the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act. “We will fight them tooth and nail over their presented EIR,” Millbrae city council member Wayne Lee says in the release. “They should be working with Millbrae to make transit-oriented development and housing a reality. Instead, they are trying to railroad their project through with no concern for residents, approved housing, or the future of our wonderful city.” The city says that in addition to filing the object, it will “take other necessary actions to stop the current plans.” Millbrae, a city of 21,000, is south of San Francisco, adjacent to San Francisco International Airport.
NJ Transit investigating light rail fire
NJ Transit is investigating the cause of a Monday night fire in a light rail vehicle that halted service on the Camden-Trenton River Line. The Cherry Hill Courier Post reports the fire occurred about 7:40 p.m.; the 17 passengers on board the train were safely evacuated at the Pennsauken station. The fire started in the engine compartment in the middle section of the three-car, diesel-powered light rail train set and spread to the train’s exterior. Pennsauken Fire Department firefighters extinguished the fire in less than 45 minutes, after which the train was moved to NJ Transit’s Pavonia yard in Camden for examination. NJ Transit has already said it will replace the diesel engines of the River Line equipment because they have reached the end of their service life and are not as fuel efficient as new prime movers.
