Andy Chow: Dumbarton rail misunderstood

One of the most misunderstood transit projects in the Bay Area is the Dumbarton Rail, in contrary to what the opponents said, it is an environmentally responsible project connecting the three counties in the southern Bay Area. Dumbarton Rail will provide an attractive option for the growing demand of inter-regional commutes.

Dumbarton Rail is the only project that will provide direct rail service from Fremont to Mountain View and Sunnyvale. This project will not only offer an option for drivers on the Dumbarton Bridge and 101, but 880 and 237 freeways as well, considering the distances are nearly equal. In addition, commuter trains from the Central Valley and the Tri-valley can travel across the Dumbarton Rail Bridge to the Peninsula and the South Bay, providing an alternative for 580 and 680 also.

Locally, Dumbarton Rail will provide service to the disadvantaged communities of North Menlo Park and East Palo Alto. Residents there will have a greater access to jobs along the Peninsula by train.

The Dumbarton Bridge currently does not have a direct freeway-to-freeway connection on the Peninsula. In the East Bay, there's no direct freeway access from 680 to the bridge. Compare Dumbarton Rail to building new freeway connections in both sides of the Bay, the rail project will result in fewer impacts to the communities and environment because it will use existing right-of-ways.

Options are limited when it comes to handling this inter-regional transportation demand that spans multiple highways. Dumbarton Rail deserves our support.