San Jose Diridon construction Oct. 19 - Dec. Follow posted signs and check monitors for track assignment changes. More info.
Caltrain and its partners are coordinating how grade separations along the corridor move forward, and that approach is bringing federal investment back to the corridor. In June 2026, the Caltrain board adopted the Corridor Crossing Strategy which helps coordinates projects throughout the Caltrain corridor.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) funding to both corridor projects that applied this round: $90 million in construction funding for the Broadway Grade Separation in Burlingame and $15.5 million in design funding for the Mary Avenue Grade Separation in Sunnyvale.
The partners thank FRA Administrator David Fink, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, and U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin for their strong and longstanding support of the corridor.
“Every day, tens of thousands of people cross Caltrain tracks, and these projects will make crossings safer for drivers, transit users, pedestrians, and the public alike,” said U.S. Senator Alex Padilla. “These awards will help build a safer, more connected Bay Area, and I’ll keep fighting to bring federal funding home for projects that make a lasting difference.”
“I am proud to help deliver federal funding for critical safety and modernization upgrades for railroad crossings throughout California—made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. All Californians deserve to live in communities with robust transportation infrastructure that helps reduce congestion. These federal investments will help ensure the safety of our pedestrians and drivers,” said U.S. Senator Schiff.
“Caltrain, the City of Burlingame, and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority have been working tirelessly to make important safety upgrades at Broadway, which has been deemed the most dangerous rail crossing in all of California,” said Congressman Kevin Mullin (CA-15). “I have been partnering with Caltrain, the SMCTA and the City to bring home more federal support for the Broadway Burlingame Grade Separation project and am thrilled it has rightfully earned an additional $90 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration. In addition to the $3 million in federal Community Project Funding I brought home earlier this year, this FRA grant will go a long way to helping improve safety in our community.”
“These federal awards advance the grade separations our communities need to enhance protection for pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and our passengers, and create a safer corridor for generations to come,” said Rico E. Medina, Caltrain Board Chair.
Broadway, Burlingame - $90 million for construction
The California Public Utilities Commission ranks Broadway as the state’s top-priority grade separation, with more than 30,000 vehicles crossing daily. Caltrain applied for the grant in partnership with the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA) and the city of Burlingame.
“This federal investment marks a major milestone for the Broadway Grade Separation Project and reflects the sustained partnership among SMCTA, Caltrain, the City of Burlingame and our state and federal leaders,” said Julia Mates, chair of the San Mateo County Transportation Authority Board of Directors. “SMCTA’s local investment helped position this critical project for delivery, improving safety and regional mobility.”
“The City of Burlingame thanks its federal partners for joining our State, County and City financing team to finally make Broadway grade separation a reality,” said Burlingame Mayor Michael Brownrigg. “Hard work, sharp pencils, and leaders who focus on the long term are what helped get this critical project over the goal line, and our residents and our region will be the better and safer for it.
This FRA grant secures a critical piece of the grade separation project’s funding and keeps the project on track for construction. The partners will continue to pursue funding for additional pedestrian and bicycle circulation improvements and coordinate those improvements with project delivery. Site preparation, utility relocation and other early construction work are expected to begin in May 2027. Construction is expected to be complete in January 2032.
Mary Avenue, Sunnyvale - $15.5 million for design
The city of Sunnyvale also secured up to $15.5 million for final design of the Mary Avenue Grade Separation, with a 21 percent local match. The project will lower Mary Avenue beneath the Caltrain tracks, removing one of Sunnyvale’s busiest at-grade crossings and improving safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. These critical federal design resources will lay the groundwork for a future grade separation at Mary Avenue.
“Federal investments like this make a tremendous difference in the safety and mobility of our communities,” said Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein. “We're grateful that the Mary Avenue Grade Separation Project was selected for funding and look forward to working with Caltrain to turn years of planning into a safer, better-connected Sunnyvale.”
“Grade separations take years of planning before the first shovel hits the ground, and this federal investment gives Sunnyvale the head start it needs,” said Rep. Ro Khanna, “Mary Avenue is a vital crossing for families, students and commuters, and I’m proud to support the work that will make it safer for generations to come.”
Caltrain is making crossings safer today through ongoing safety improvements across the corridor. These range from simple measures like medians and pavement markings to larger interventions like channelization and quad gates, and they work hand in hand with grade separations to build a safer corridor now and for the long term.
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About Caltrain: Owned and operated by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, Caltrain provides rail service from San Francisco to San Jose, with commuter service to Gilroy. Serving the region since 1863, Caltrain is the oldest continually operating rail system west of the Mississippi and the first railroad to convert from diesel to electric power in a generation.
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