I finally found some information on what is happening with the Sac Valley station. We all know that the tracks have been moved, and now there's a long walk to get to the station. As well as an echo filled tunnel where garbled intercom speakers perpetually announce the impending departure of your train, regardless as to whether or not the train has even arrived at the station, let alone been boarded and readied for departure. One of the Amtrak employees told me this was to get people moving a little earlier, now that there is a long walk to the tracks. I don't really think this works, I think it just confuses an already inconvenient issue.
Unfortunately, the posting that I found explaining the future plans of the station only go into details on the station itself - the building where the tickets are sold 1/4 a mile from the tracks. There is a lot of empty real estate around the tracks, and there is near constant construction going on. Holes being dug, piles of dirt and concrete forming, but no telling what is actually happening there.
I'm really looking for two things: An indoor rest area as near to the tracks as you can get it. A bike-able pathway leading to the entrance of the tunnel. Every day that I use the train, I have to go around construction and the light rail station and every day I walk my bike down the path and I look off to the right and wish I had a more direct route there.
It's the light rail tracks in particular that bother me. H st is one-way, G st ends at 7th, and I st is very busy with no bike lane. My options are to ride on the sidewalk along Hst, next to the light rail, or to go down to I st, and the come back, just to progress a distance of two blocks west to the station. I take the sidewalk route exclusively, but it's not great. With opposing traffic, pedestrians, construction and light rail, this last little bit of my commute is the most dangerous.
I just wish I had a more direct route there, and I really want one to open up, or to otherwise be shown a plan to make a more direct route to the station for bikes and pedestrians. I really hate the clusterfuck.
There are a few clusterfucks here in Sacramento, come to think of it. At least for bike riders. Riding to Pipeworks climbing gym is one such fuck of clusters.
Anyway, I'm going to end this rant. Enjoy the station construction plans.
http://www.cityofsacramento.org/transportation/director/sitf/
what's going on with the station
http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/54209-the-new-sacramento-depot-with-pictures/
posting about station - finally!
http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/53985-sacramento-i-street-bridge-replacement-funding-possible/?hl=sacramento
new bridge in sac?
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Sunday, May 5, 2013
alston train life services
Are these the guys retrofitting our traincars to hold 13 bicycles? Only further research can reveal the truth!
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