Caltrain receives national honor

Caltrain took top honors at the American Public Transportation Association meeting in San Jose for its print advertising campaign, according to spokesman Jonah Weinberg.

Caltrain's first place color ad ran in local publications, featured the current gasoline price and said, "Take Caltrain for relief." As the price of gas rose, so did the dollar amount on the ad. When gas prices became higher than $3 per gallon, the price was replaced with the word "Enough."

According to Weinberg, the ad also promoted Caltrain's Web site, which features a gas calculator showing how much money customers can save when they ride Caltrain.

"People have started taking Caltrain because of the skyrocketing gas prices," Caltrain CEO Mike Scanlon said. "But they have stuck with us even as gas prices have gone down."

A trip on Caltrain from San Jose to San Francisco takes less than an hour and Caltrain boasts a 95% or better on-time record, according to agency officials.

"You can't beat that in your car," Scanlon said. "I don't know anyone who can make it from San Jose to San Francisco at rush hour in under an hour, let alone do it while reading a book or taking a nap."