Caltrain: Still Searching For a Solution

Caltrain's governing body, the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, projects that the railway is facing a $30.3 million deficit going into fiscal year 2012, beginning July 1 of this year.

If you have been keeping up with our coverage here on Burlingame Patch, you would know that the projected deficit is . 

What has changed since?

The board declared Caltrain in a state of fiscal emergency at a meeting in the San Mateo County Transit District administrative offices on Thursday.

The board has declared a fiscal emergency for the past three years leading up to 2012.

By unanimously voting to declare a fiscal emergency, the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board bypassed the necessity to develop an environmental impact report required by the California Environmental Quality Act if they decide to shut down stations.

Shutting down stations is, in fact, a course of action the board is considering to minimize the $30.3 million budget gap. Burlingame Avenue station is one of seven stations on the chopping block.

Several Caltrain riders and members of the public spoke out against declaring a fiscal emergency at the meeting because of the fact that station closures could result in environmental impacts, which the board has now bypassed the need to formally research and document. 

For instance, a think tank called the Silicon Valley Leadership Group estimated that if Caltrain riders were to travel via automobile, they would increase regional CO2 emissions by 198,085,342 pounds.

Not only could station closures result in environmental issues, but Burlingame Mayor Terry Nagel said there are economic issues to consider, as well.

"I am here to shamelessly lobby you to keep the Burlingame Station open," said Mayor Nagel, half-jokingly, to the board. "The city was built around the Burlingame station."

The mayor then went on to cite the economic benefits the train station provides to Burlingame: reliable transportation for residents who earn a living in other cities, increased property values for those who own homes within a half-mile of the station and a means of transit for bringing in patrons of local businesses.

Ross Bruce, President of the Broadway Merchants Association, also expressed concerns over Burlingame's economic viability should the Burlingame Avenue station be closed.

"Merchants adjacent to those stations depend on the train for both customers and employees," said Bruce.

The Broadway Caltrain station was hit by service cuts predating the current budget. (For Mayor Nagel's thoughts on cuts to Broadway station, see our previous report )

Downtown Business Improvement District President Dale Ferrel pointed out that the Burlingame Avenue station itself is as much a part of the community as a railway hub.

The station is also home to the

“Burlingame station is a historic building. It is iconic to this area,” said Ferrel.

The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board has received over 1,300 comments on the Caltrain budget issue to date, not including comments from Thursday's meeting. 719 of those comments were opposed to station closures.