Burlingame Residents Work To Save Caltrain

About a dozen community members, including three city council members, gathered to learn more about Caltrain’s financial plight and discuss possible funding solutions during a Save Caltrain meeting in Burlingame Wednesday night.

The Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) hosted the event as part of a series of meetings held in Santa Clara County, San Mateo County and San Francisco. By gathering suggestions for long-term funding for the cash-strapped service, the SVLG hopes to overcome Caltrain’s budget crisis.

Last Thursday, the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board to continue its current 86-train schedule with a fare and parking fee increase. Last week’s vote was good news, said Board Member Liz Kniss. She worried, however, that people may believe Caltrain’s fiscal problems are over.

“Caltrain has an on-going-structural deficit due to the fact that there is no dedicated source of revenue,” Kniss said. “Year in year out the system is dependent on fluctuating one-time funds and creative service solutions.”

“There is no permanent funding for this train. It does not exist,” she said.

The group proposed redirecting San Mateo County Measure A and M funds as another method to obtain a long-term funding source, a technique Councilmember Michael Brownrigg disagreed with, saying it creates debt. However, Brownrigg suggested charging freight-service Union Pacific and eventually High Speed Rail for use of the tracks.

Creating some sort of regional tax was also suggested, as well as increasing sales tax and a regional gas tax. However, participants were wary that voters would support a tax without a more user-friendly Caltrain.

“If you’re going to increase the sales tax, people aren’t going to vote for something unless they know they have a good product,” said Councilmember Ann Keighran. “Many people are saying it’s too inconvenient, and that’s why the don’t use it.”

Other residents agreed convenience is an issue. The Caltrain schedule makes getting to the San Jose airport for most flights difficult, and often Caltrain arrivals and connecting transit service departures, such as buses, fail to coincide.

They also agreed the overall experience could be improved to boost Caltrain ridership. Coffee carts, free newspapers and friendlier conductors were proposed.

One Burlingame resident also questioned the marketing tactics of Caltrain, suggesting promoting benefits of riding the train such as texting during transit without getting a ticket.

“I haven’t seen a sign that says, ‘Caltrain is here, let’s get on board,’” he said.

 More than 40,000 people ride Caltrain everyday, SVLG senior associate Bena Chang said.

SVLG will hold another town hall meeting May 4 at 6 p.m. at the UCSF Mission Bay Campus.