SAN CARLOS -- Caltrain passed a key milestone Thursday in its $1.5 billion project to electrify its railway, unveiling the final environmental impact report on an ambitious undertaking that will allow the agency to boost ridership, reduce air pollution and prepare for the arrival of high-speed rail.
The agency debuted the report in a presentation to its board of directors, which is expected to approve the document next month. At that point the agency can hire a team to design and build the new system.
The plan calls for erecting poles and wires above 51 miles of track from San Francisco to San Jose, installing power supplies along the rail corridor and purchasing a new fleet of trains. Caltrain anticipates construction beginning in 2016 and finishing by 2021.
