Diesel engines that pollute, dozens of dangerous grade crossings, doors with steep steps -- Caltrain is a 19th century style railroad in a region of California that desperately needs modern transportation services. The short-sighted decision by Santa Clara and San Mateo counties to turn their backs on BART, made 50 years ago, continues to play itself out.
This is a key decision that derails the timeline of a decade-long project, potentially irreversibly, costing hundreds of millions of dollars. This decision, and the fact that it could be made and can have these consequences, is a prime example of Americans' unwillingness to invest in infrastructure. Caltrain electrification is as vital and representative an infrastructure project as you can find anywhere in Northern California.