No weekend service between Tamien and San Jose Diridon Stations on select weekends July–Sept. Closure this Sat.–Sun., August 22–23. More info.
Project Overview
Project Description
The Broadway Burlingame Grade Separation Project will eliminate the at-grade railroad crossing at Broadway by elevating the railroad. This project will remove conflicts between rail and roadway traffic with a focus on safety and pedestrian and car traffic at the nearby Broadway intersections with California Drive, Carolan Avenue, and Rollins Road.
The project maintains bicycle and pedestrian access along Broadway and includes new pedestrian underpasses at Cadillac Way and Sanchez Avenue beneath the rail corridor, along with a connected set of pedestrian and bicycle improvements. Together, these enhancements will improve connectivity and create a safer, more comfortable experience for people walking, biking, and traveling through the Broadway corridor.
Project Location Map
Project Background
The California Public Utilities Commission has identified Broadway as the highest-priority grade separation project in California. Caltrain, in partnership with the City of Burlingame and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA), is separating the railroad tracks from the roadway at Broadway to make the crossing safer for everyone who drives, walks, bikes or rides through the crossing. Union Pacific also operates on this corridor, providing the only freight rail link between San Jose and San Francisco.
Updated 65% Design (2024 to 2026)
As a project advances through design, it moves through several key milestones that reflect increasing levels of design completion and greater certainty around project scope, schedule, and cost.
In early 2024, updated estimates showed that the construction cost for the original project had increased significantly, leading Caltrain, the City of Burlingame, and SMCTA to jointly reassess the project scope.
After this reassessment, in March 2025, the Burlingame City Council reviewed the options to reduce project costs and agreed to advance a design without a Broadway station, focusing the project on the grade separation. This modification allowed for the removal of a set of temporary tracks that would have carried trains around the work zone during construction. Together, these cost-saving changes focus the project on the core infrastructure needed to eliminate the at-grade crossing at Broadway.
In August 2025, the Caltrain Board of Directors, SMCTA, and the City approved a memorandum of understanding to complete the 65% design reflecting the refined scope. In June 2026, staff completed the project's 65% design and developed an updated detailed cost estimate.
The project has advanced through more than a decade of planning, environmental review, and design, and is now preparing to enter the final design phase.
Project Schedule
Cost and Funding
The total project cost is currently estimated at $662 million. This figure covers the full scope of the project: planning, design, environmental work, property needs, utilities, construction, and oversight. Based on the latest estimate, construction could begin as soon as November 2028, subject to funding availability.
The project is funded through a combination of local, county, regional, state, and federal sources. Caltrain, the City of Burlingame, and the SMCTA are working on identifying potential funding sources to close the remaining funding gaps and are actively working to secure this needed funding.
In March 2025, the project was estimated to cost $615 million if construction began in 2026 and $653 million if it began in 2028. With this updated 65% design, the cost estimate update reflects detailed construction phasing and work windows. The project cost estimate, which will be updated again when design reaches 95%, will inform the guaranteed maximum price negotiation with the contractor. Our goal is to begin construction as soon as possible to avoid further cost increases brought on by delays.
Funding and Advocacy
Caltrain, SMCTA, and the city of Burlingame are working together on funding and advocacy for the project.
Existing Safety Enhancements
Learn more about how Caltrain is using AI to implement safety improvements: https://www.caltrain.com/news/caltrain-implements-safety-improvements-crossings-utilizing-ai-technology-more-safety