Politics & Government
San Carlans Flock to Caltrain Meeting to Protest Potential Service Cuts
Caltrain meeting resulted in some major decisions to reduce trains in cities along the Peninsula.
San Carlos residents joined the more than 100 people who flocked to
Caltrain headquarters in San Carlos to protest potential service cuts
that could result in closing the train stations, or reducing the
amount of daily trains in circulation.
Both options, as well as fee hikes, have been proposed by the Caltrain
administration in an effort to reduce its nearly $30 million budget
deficit.
The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, comprised of community
leaders from across the Bay Area, unanimously voted at their meeting
to declare a fiscal emergency for 2012 as Caltrain anticipates facing
a $30 million deficit entering the fiscal year beginning in July.
The declaration eases the board's path toward hiking fees or cutting services.
In an effort to reduce the budget gap, the board is bandying proposals
to cut the 86 trains currently circulating during the weekdays nearly
in half to 48 trains per day. As well, closing seven of the existing
stations has been proposed as well.
The 10 stations on the chopping block are: Bayshore, South San
Francisco, San Bruno, Burlingame, Hayward Park, Belmont, San Antonio,
Lawrence, Santa Clara and College Park. Only seven of the possible 10
would be closed, should the board elect to do so.
The purpose of this month's meeting was for members of the public to
voice their opinion about the proposed budget cuts and fee increases.
San Carlos resident Cindy May spoke to the board in favor of Caltrain
maintaining its current level of service and implored board members to
search of a sustainable funding source.
She suggested the board investigate the possibility of finding a
corporate sponsor that could help pay for some of the rail
organization's expenses.
She also encouraged board members to be more transparent about what
type of action they take regarding finding potential revenue sources.
Caltrain executive director Michael Scanlon said the rail organization
is looking for a sustainable revenue source, as it is the only local
form of public transportation that is not funded by a dedicated
source.
No actions regarding service levels were taken at this meeting, but
the board is expected to begin doing so next month, in an effort to
finalize its upcoming fiscal year's budget.
Should the proposed reductions in service be approved, the budget
deficit would be slashed from $30 million down to nearly $5 million,
according to a report released by Caltrain.
The board is dealing with a structural deficit, as it has struggled
with financing for the past several years.
Caltrain is financed by contributions from the City and County of San
Francisco, San Mateo County Transit District, and Santa Clara Valley
Transportation Authority.
Other potential budget balancing techniques proposed include a 25-cent
fee increase per one-way ticket, as well as suspension of service for
special events or during weekends and holidays or possibly all
stopping service south of the Diridon Station in San Jose.
The public turned out en masse to speak out against the potential
service cuts, and often showed a willingness to shoulder fee hikes for
tickets and parking in exchange for maintaining current levels of
service and keeping all stations open.
A 25-cent fee increase could generate $1.2 million in additional fee
revenue. Nearly half of Caltrain's funding comes from revenue made at
the fare box, according to a Caltrain report.
Scanlon said all suggestions for coping with the budget crisis are
still on the table.
San Francisco Supervisor and JPB Chair Sean Elsbernd said more than
1,300 comments by the public were received before the meeting.
