Caltrain Sets Community Meetings: Possible Fare Increase/Service Suspensions

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May 18, 2009

Caltrain will hold three community meetings to receive public comments about proposed fare increases and service suspensions. The following proposals will be considered:

• Increase the Full Fare One-way base and/or zone fares by 25 cents
• Increase all other Full Fare and Eligible Discount fares in proportion to the Full Fare One-way increase
• Increase Go Pass pricing up to the equivalent of the full fare three-zone Monthly Pass
• Increase Go Pass participation rate up to the equivalent of 100 passes
• Increase parking fees
• Suspend all weekend service
• Reduce midday service to 1-hour headways
• Suspend Gilroy service

Caltrain is facing a projected $10.1 million deficit for Fiscal Year 2010. One-time funding sources that have been used to bridge deficits for the last seven years are largely depleted. Another key funding source, State Transit Assistance, has been eliminated for the next few years. This puts an additional strain on Caltrain’s partners – the City and County of San Francisco, San Mateo County Transit District and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority – who each rely on STA funds for their transit operations.

In addition, the deepening recession and job losses are beginning to negatively impact Caltrain ridership and revenues. March showed the first monthly ridership decline in many years.

The meetings will take place at 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 27 at the following locations:

• San Francisco: 25 Van Ness Avenue, Lower Level Conference Room
• San Carlos: Caltrain Headquarters, Auditorium, 1250 San Carlos Ave.
• San Jose: VTA Administrative Offices, Auditorium. 3331 North First Street

Two public hearings will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, June 4, at the Caltrain Administrative Office, 1250 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos, on the proposed changes and a declaration of fiscal emergency. A fiscal emergency is called if an agency is projected to have negative working capital within one year.

Comments will be accepted up until the public hearings. To comment, attend one of the community meetings or public hearings, send e-mail to changes@caltrain.com, send regular mail to District Secretary, Caltrain, P.O. Box 3006, San Carlos, CA 94070-1306, or call 1.800.660.4287 (TDD for hearing impaired only 650.508.6448).