News Briefs News Briefs (July 29, 2005)

Smashed hydrant floods shops on El Camino

An out-of-control car split open a fire hydrant on El Camino Real last week, causing water to pour into a nearby strip mall and resulting in minor flood damage.

The incident occurred last Thursday, July 21, when the car hit a hydrant at 2090 El Camino Real, not far from the Rengstorff Avenue intersection. Some of the lanes on El Camino were briefly closed as crews worked to stop the flooding.

A few of the nearby businesses sustained minor flood damage, according to Mountain View fire spokesman Lynn Brown. It was not immediately clear what caused the driver to lose control of the car. -- Jenny Baer

Caltrain adds to its Baby Bullet service

Caltrain is adding to its fleet of Baby Bullet trains beginning Monday, the agency has announced.

The addition of 10 Baby Bullet trains and five new Baby Bullet station stops is all part of Caltrain's latest effort to attract commuters and get back on track from a projected $13.6 million shortfall, the agency said in a statement.

Baby Bullets are scheduled to stop at the San Mateo, Redwood City, Menlo Park, Sunnyvale, and Tamien stations in addition to those already receiving the service.

The new stops are being matched with two new schedule patterns, with Mountain View included in the first pattern: San Jose Diridon, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Hillsdale, Millbrae, 22nd Street and finally Fourth Street in San Francisco.

Riders can call (800) 660-4287 to hear the new schedule. -- Bay City News

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