Parking at Baby Bullet Stations

Due to the popularity of Caltrain’s Baby Bullet service, available parking spaces at some stations have become scarce. However, there are alternatives to hunting for a parking place.

Caltrain stations are served by public transportation. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority serves the San Jose Diridon, Mountain View and Palo Alto stations, and SamTrans serves the Palo Alto, Hillsdale and Millbrae stations. A two-zone Caltrain Monthly pass is good as local fare on all VTA buses and light rail, as well as on SamTrans buses.

Carpooling to the station may be a viable option. The Regional Ridershare Program can match up Caltrain riders who live in the same neighborhood. Riders can call 511 and say “Rideshare” to talk to a transportation consultant about starting a carpool to the Caltrain station.

As an additional incentive, Caltrain riders who carpool to the Hillsdale station can participate in a program sponsored by the Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance. Carpool two days a week for eight weeks and receive a $20 gas card. Each member of the carpool is eligible for this offer. For more information call 650.588.8170.

Caltrain passengers who bike to the station kill two birds with one stone: they don’t have to hunt for a parking space and they can skip their daily visit to the gym.

For those riders unable to find parking at the San Jose Diridon station, park for free at the Tamien station and take Caltrain. There’s a six-minute wait to connect to or from most Baby Bullet trains.

If the parking lot at the Mountain View station is full, Caltrain riders may park at the VTA Evelyn Light Rail park-and-ride lot on Evelyn Avenue at Pioneer Way and take light rail to the station. Walking takes about 10 minutes. Parking is also available behind the Tied House at West Evelyn and Franklin Streets.

At the Hillsdale station, there is additional Caltrain parking by TGI Fridays and a new parking lot on the eastside of the station. And, at the Millbrae station, Caltrain riders may park for free on the eastside of the station in the BART surface lots or in the multi-story parking garage.

For information about SamTrans and Caltrain service, call the Customer Service Center at 1.800.660.4287 or TTY only at 650.508.6448, or go to www.samtrans.com.

3/27/08