SJRRC Caps Fares With CAP
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive EditorCalifornia’s San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) has launched the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) Community Assistance Program (CAP) as a one-year pilot “to address equity and enhance regional mobility.”
SJRRC will provide qualifying CAP participants up to 50% off regular ACE commuter rail tickets for fiscal year 2020-21. Funding is through a Caltrans Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) grant. (LCTOP is part of the Transit, Affordable Housing, and Sustainable Communities Program established by the California Legislature in 2014 with Senate Bill 862.)
SJRRC staffers are now working with community-based organizations throughout the corridor—from Stockton to San Jose—to qualify individuals who meet a certain income threshold. The 211 of San Joaquin with Family Resource and Referral Center is already a partner.
Additionally, all riders can transfer for free to The Wheels bus service, which operates from the ACE Pleasanton Station to Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) Dublin Station and to Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA) services at the Santa Clara and San Jose Diridon Station. (See map above.)
“We are excited to launch the new ACE CAP program to make the ACE service more accessible to our communities,” SJRRC Chair Christina Fugazi said. “Our hope is that commuters and families get out of their cars and spend quality time working or relaxing while riding the train.”
If the CAP pilot program is successful, SJRRC said it will seek additional funding to maintain it.
