Legislative budget restores Broadway crossing funding

“Today’s announcement rejecting proposed budget cuts for critical grade separation projects in Burlingame, Palo Alto, and Mountain View demonstrates that the Legislature is united in prioritizing safety, improving public transit, and honoring its prior commitments that have been made to our communities,” Becker said in a press release Wednesday. “We need these state funds now so that we can leverage federal matching funds and finally begin construction on these necessary safety upgrades.”

Becker joined a coalition of local leaders to call for the reinstatement of over $113 million from the California State Transportation Agency’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program, which was excluded from the governor’s proposed 2024-25 budget. Broadway was to get $70 million, Mountain View was to get $20 million and Palo Alto was to get $23.79 million for their grade separation projects, which typically raise the tracks and lower the road.

Burlingame has already committed $2 million to the project, which has an estimated price tag of around $316 million and serious financial commitments from municipal entities, Burlingame Vice Mayor Emily Beach said Tuesday. 

The city is ready to add an additional $15 million for the grade separation — which could alleviate serious safety concerns and slowdowns at the troubled intersection, the subject of a recent lawsuit alleging Burlingame and Caltrain failed to mitigate risks that caused a 2021 death. 

Project funding is currently relying on an approximately $160 million commitment from the San Mateo County Transportation Authority and another $15 million from the California Public Utilities Commission once shovel-ready, Beach said. 

If $70 million from the state is successfully obtained, federal funds will more likely follow. But the proposition is made less likely by the exclusion of a grade separation from the state budget, catalyzing recent advocacy efforts. 

Making the intersection — which has seen seven train and automobile collisions since August 2021 — safer for the community is one of Burlingame’s first concerns, Mayor Donna Colson said. 

Not only is it dangerous for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians, but an influx of housing construction in Burlingame and neighboring cities means more people trying to get back and forth, Colson said — and Caltrain’s electrification project, slated for September, will eventually increase speed and frequency of trains through the Broadway crossing. 

“We are cautiously optimistic and appreciate the immense regional support to restore this funding. We are grateful to the Legislature and especially to our regional representatives who recognized the absolute necessity of this project and have raised the awareness,” Colson said.

Since the cuts were proposed, Becker has been working with state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, chair of the Senate Committee on Budget, and his legislative colleagues to restore this funding. The Joint Legislative Budget Agreement Plan now goes before the budget committee process for consideration. It is typical for the Legislature to suggest its own budget and work with the governor’s office on a final budget by the legislative deadline of June 30.