Being drunk can make you do things you'd never do sober. Just stay home. Don't even drive in a car driven by a sober driver.

Caltrain needs to wise up and not allow booze on any of their trains, but especially weekends and after baseball games. Those trains are awful for all the sober passengers and as in this case, dangerous for the Caltrain employees.

Caltrain already prohibits open containers and drinking on the trains after baseball games and I think the ban goes into effect at 9pm on game nights. The SM County deputies also board the trains before they leave the King Street station and check for any riders who would fall under public intoxication laws.

Perhaps this latest incident will influence Caltrain to tighten their restrictions, depending on the events their riders are attending?

And just think...beginning August 2nd, when Levi Stadium opens it's doors for business, Mountain View will be greeted with an influx of people - coming/going via Cal Train - some/many of who may have over-indulged.

Who will be footing the bill for the additional police presence that will most likely be needed downtown on Levi Stadium event days?

MVResident67: How many people have YOU determined will show up on gamed ays and how did you get that number?
Everything I've read states that its unknown the effect of 49er games...totally up in the air, so it may just be a huge non issue with the exception of those prone to "Chicken little" outlooks.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing your numbers.

@OrNot:

"How many people have YOU determined will show up on gamed ays and how did you get that number?"

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Show up where, exactly, on game days -- in Mountain View or at Levi Stadium?

I don't know if I have come across a document that cites what the the city of Mountain View should be prepared for in terms of influx of people and/or cars, and how much parking may be required for those using Cal Train and/or light rail as part of their transit to Levi Stadium event days. I would be surprised if some sort of study with projections has NOT been done, or maybe not?

If such a study has been done, it would be great if someone could post a link because I would be interested in reading it.

In general, when planning projects, it seems prudent to consider ALL potential scenarios - even what might be considered worst case scenarios, along with what may be best case scenarios - in order to try and be prepared to better manage a "worst case scenario" should that come to pass.

Prepare for the worst by utilizing plans that are designed to help avoid landing in a "worst case scenario" situation, all while striving for the best possible outcome...it's a planning strategy that has generally worked very well for me throughout my career. I would hope that the city of Mountain View plans similarly.

OK, so there is no need to ask who is going to fund the extra police just yet.
When we prepare for the worst in all cases, we waste $ in most all cases. I see no reason to spend dime one on this non-issue now. Some loony got drunk and went off on the Caltrain employees. From news reports, this sort of thing is VERY rare and not foretelling of some issue about game day crowds.
If it becomes an issue that seems more imminent, MV can address it then.

Creating a plan without knowing how many to plan for is TERRIBLE planning.
I don't think it'll be an issue at all. Think about it. If you drove all the way down the peninsula, do you want to then drive for 15 mins just to get to the MV train station from the freeway, then find parking, then buy tix and get on a train.
Common sense says people will board the train earlier(SF), or drive and not get off in MV, but instead take the extra few freeway exits to get to their destination. They would be loosing a lot of time messing w/ the logistics of getting to the train station, then taking it from MV. If someone does do it, I bet they will realize how it doesn't make sense and takes longer.

@Or Not,

What I heard last night (at the city council meeting) in terms of what the city should prepare for event days at Levi Stadium is 500-600 cars looking for parking and 2,600 - 3,400 hundred additional people.

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"If you drove all the way down the peninsula, do you want to then drive for 15 mins just to get to the MV train station from the freeway, then find parking, then buy tix and get on a train.

Common sense says people will board the train earlier(SF), or drive and not get off in MV, but instead take the extra few freeway exits to get to their destination. They would be loosing a lot of time messing w/ the logistics of getting to the train station, then taking it from MV. If someone does do it, I bet they will realize how it doesn't make sense and takes longer."

~~~~~

Does it really take YOU fifteen minutes to get from the freeway exit to the MV train station?

Parking is one of the issues. If Levi stadium charges $50.00 to park on game days (and that's what we heard last night) and one can park in Mountain View for FREE, then hop on light rail and hit the game...what do your think the majority of people are going to do? "common sense" says that for many people it's not going to be about the time, it's going to be about the money.

Free parking in Mountain View and a cheap light rail ride to/from Levi Stadium vs traffic delays, parking lines and $50.00 to park at Levi Stadium.

Do the math.

It would be exceptionally remiss to NOT be putting event day planning in place.