One week this month, fewer than two dozen riders boarded the Altamont Commuter Express in Tracy at 9:59 a.m. for its midday route, which commissioners may eliminate in October to save on costs. Also nixed is a talked-about evening train for commuters who work late. Press file photo
The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission that oversees the commuter train could vote in October to eliminate ACE’s midday train that leaves Tracy at 9:59 a.m. and returns from San Jose at 1:39 p.m.
Ridership for ACE has fallen 15 percent from what it was a year ago, and for the midday train, the number of riders is plunging.
In Tracy, 29 percent fewer riders used the midday service this summer compared with this time last year. For the week of Aug. 10, an average of 16 passengers hopped on the midday train at the station on South Tracy Boulevard, said ACE spokesman Thomas Reeves.
Puny ridership is costing ACE a lot of money.
Any ACE train costs about $700,000 a year to run, but with the small number of commuters on the midday train, it only recovers about $140,000 from passengers. And though the train gets money from other sources, such as the Measure K sales tax, ACE is still running the trains at a big loss. ACE’s operating budget is about $15.9 million.
Reeves said fares paid by roughly 3,000 riders on popular morning commuter trains can cover about 60 percent of the cost to run a train, plus shuttles from train stations to destinations in the Bay Area. Shuttles cost about $200,000 a year per train, Reeves said.
The midday train was never the boon for ACE some thought it might be when it was added in 2007. Rather than bringing in new riders, Reeves said, it’s mostly used by regular ACE riders who decide for whatever reason to work shorter days.
With the midday train lagging far behind others, analysts recommended that commissioners ax the service. Commissioners are scheduled to vote at an Oct. 3 hearing.
Talk of adding an evening train, a popular idea with commuters, is also out the window. Overall, the number of people who take the ACE train has dropped by about 2,000 in the past year.
“Unfortunately, ridership is declining systemwide,” Reeves said.
• Contact a Tracy Press editor or reporter at 830-4280 or tpnews@tracypress.com.
I guess they won't be able to take the noon day train to go get free healtcare in the Bay Area now?
Let's focus on jobs first?
JOBS!!!??? Otherwise, the people will not be using this transit.
Come On Politicians, stop having your power lunches, ego stroking sessions and think about getting jobs back to USA? Many college graduates are losing hope.