Service cuts are on the chopping block and fare increases are almost a sure bet, but exactly how much Caltrain riders will be forced to dig into their pockets is yet to be decided.
Over the course of the next two months, the Caltrain Board of Directors will hold a series of public meetings to discuss scenarios for saving $11 million to balance next year's budget. Those scenarios include fare increases and wide variety of cuts — from limited Gilroy service to reductions in the baby bullet schedule.
Before public testimony is heard, the board will meet again Monday to get a better idea of what those scenarios mean for the agency and its riders.
After that, Caltrain will schedule three public workshops about the budget in each of the three counties it serves — San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara. Public testimony will be heard at the board's April 7 meeting and a final decision will be made by its May meeting.
The estimated $11 million deficit is caused in part by the state siphoning money from Proposition 42 funds, which requires gas-tax revenue be spent on transportation. Caltrain is also spending more money than it is receiving because the counties served by the rail system froze their contributions for the past four years to save their own budgets while the cost of running trains is increasing.
Caltrain increased fares in 2002 by 10 percent and hasn't done so since. Current Caltrain fares are on par with other Bay Area rail systems. Caltrain fares equal about 12 cents per mile — the same as ACE in San Jose. San Diego's Coaster system and Los Angeles's Metrolink charge about 13 cents a mile. However, fares in New York are as much as 23 cents a mile.
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