Proposed Caltrain Service Changes/Fare Increases a Stop-gap Measure

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September 2, 2010

Although the elimination of Caltrain service to Gilroy and on weekends has been taken off the list of options aimed at closing a $2.3 million budget shortfall, the cuts could very well be back on the table next summer.

At a public hearing held today, Caltrain Executive Director Michael J. Scanlon warned that the rail agency is facing a budget deficit of nearly $30 million in Fiscal Year 2012 and that more drastic cuts will be coming.

“These will be the good old days compared to what we will face in July,” Scanlon said.

Faced with those circumstances, the rail service could be reduced to peak-hour, weekday service only, Scanlon said.

“We are talking about no special service, no weekend service, no late night service, no midday service and no service to Gilroy. We are only putting off for a matter of months the day of reckoning,” he said.

The Board heard comments from 30 members of the public during the 90-minute hearing, and the agency received more than 1,500 comments from the public in a month-long outreach effort.  Most people were in favor of increasing fares rather than reducing service.

The following proposals are under consideration:

· Reduce weekday early morning, midday and/or late evening service

· Increase the Full Fare one-way base or zone fares by 25 cents with corresponding changes to related fares

· Increase Go Pass from $140 to $155

· Revise codified tariff to reflect Clipper^SM card implementation: discontinue Monthly Pass grace period; discontinue the use of 8-ride ticket by more than one passenger per ticket; redefine youth to 17 years and younger; a charge for purchase of card

Details of the proposed schedule changes and fare increases can be found here.

Staff will present a final proposal to the board for adoption at the Oct. 7 board meeting. The changes would take effect Jan. 1, 2011.

Caltrain is a commuter rail line operating between San Francisco and San Jose, with commute service to Gilroy. Average weekday ridership on the mix of 90 local, limited and express weekday trains is 38,000. Local, hourly service is provided on Saturdays and Sundays.

Caltrain is owned and operated by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, a partnership of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the San Mateo County Transit District and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.

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