More than $450M in transportation agencies’ budgets

The three entities collectively oversee expenditures on regional and San Mateo County transit projects, programs and allocations to cities from the countywide half-cent sales tax dedicated to transportation. 

Whether it’s potentially adding managed lanes on Highway 101, considering how to retrofit the out-of-service Dumbarton rail bridge, or studying express lanes for buses on El Camino Real; the San Mateo County Transit District is looking to make progress, said spokeswoman Tasha Bartholomew.

“By passing the SamTrans, Caltrain and TA budgets, the Transit District is committed to congestion relief and mobility options … for everyone that lives, works or passes through the Peninsula,” she said in an email.

Caltrain’s Board of Directors approved a $148.2 million operating budget and a $64.9 million capital budget. These budgets do not, however, include expenses related to electrifying Caltrain, a nearly $2 billion modernization currently underway that includes purchasing new trains.

The regional train operates under a joint agreement between San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, which collectively offered $20.5 million to cover operating expenses and $15 million for its capital budget. Caltrain does not have a dedicated funding source, such as a sales tax, and expenses often exceed revenue. Another $18 million in reserves may be spent to cover expenses in the coming year, although the board is considering raising fares to help reduce the need to dip into reserves, according to Caltrain. Farebox revenue accounts for nearly 71 percent of the budget and both ticket prices as well as parking rates are expected to increase in some cases between 14 percent and 50 percent.  

Caltrain’s $64.9 million capital budget is supported through federal, state and regional sources and will cover long-term infrastructure improvements and maintenance projects. About $3.9 million is new funds are coming from the state’s Senate Bill 1, a recent overhaul that included gas tax increases, a new charge for electric cars and raising vehicle registration fees. Caltrain’s capital budget also sets aside $4.4 million for the Burlingame Grade Separation project, and another $1.1 million to replace the Napoleon Street bridge in San Francisco, according to Caltrain.

Last week, the San Mateo County Transit District Board of Directors unanimously approved capital and operating budgets, which cover the SamTrans bus system. The district will spend about $147 million on operating costs, which requires $5.4 million in reserves. Officials warn if the current trend of expenses outpacing revenue continues, the nearly $100 million in unrestricted reserve fund could be depleted in the coming years.

The operating budget includes $119 million for buses, $18.4 million for programs benefiting the disabled and $6.1 million toward Caltrain, according to the district. The district’s $16.4 million capital budget will support a range of projects including upgrading information technology systems, purchasing the agency’s first all-electric buses, repaving a park-n-ride lot and $3.9 million to replace traffic signals on El Camino Real that prioritize SamTrans buses, according to the district. 

Proceeds from the county’s Measure A, a locally-controlled half-cent sales tax, are dedicated to transportation and doled out to the transit agencies and other jurisdictions. The expenditures are overseen by the TA, which also approved its annual budget this month.

The TA has an $86.8 million budget that will be divvied up to various entitles, cities and transportation groups throughout the county. Of its expenditures, $23.3 million was set aside for streets and highways, $12.7 million for grade separation projects along the Caltrain line, $3.4 million for shuttle operations and $6.8 million for Caltrain’s capital investments. Annual allocations totaling $30.9 million will help fund projects such as the Bay Area Rapid Transit’s San Francisco International Airport extension, paratransit services provided by SamTrans, and $19 million to cities and the county for local street improvements. Another $1.7 million is allocated to ferry service in South San Francisco and Redwood City, $458,500 for a countywide transportation demand management program and $2.5 million for pedestrian and bicycle projects.

Voters overwhelmingly extended the half-cent sales tax in 2004, and district staff estimates revenue is expected to increase by $1.9 million. The anticipated 2018 growth is attributed to a 2.9 percent population increase, retail sales growth of 4.2 percent and a 15.3 percent hike in personal income, which all contribute to increases sales taxes, according to the district.

samantha@smdailyjournal.com

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Twitter: @samantha_weigel