New location found for Caltrain power station

Caltrain’s previous plan was to put the paralleling station — which will help supply power to the electric trains once they’re up and running in 2022 — at the corner of Mills and California streets, just 50 feet from homes. The new location is 200 feet from the closest home.

“We heard very loud and clear that folks didn’t like [the previous location], but the pitchforks and torches can be put away now,” Mayor Michael Brownrigg said. “There are still details we still need to work out. … We’ll have issues with our guys [Public Works employees] parking, but we’ll work through it because it’s more important to be there than Mills Avenue.”

Brownrigg said the paralleling station will be “submerged” below the tracks, 10 feet on the other side of the grade and downhill, good news for those worried about electromagnetic fields and aesthetics.

“I want to thank both entities for working together and coming up with a solution to this problem. I’ll have to get rid of three pages of ranting and raving,” one resident said at the meeting.

Caltrain spokesman Dan Lieberman said a preliminary design for the structure will be presented at another community meeting in the coming weeks. But generally, these structures occupy 4,000 square feet with a bridgelike overhead structure between 40 and 60 feet high, he said.

The Burlingame paralleling station is one of 10 that will be constructed along Caltrain tracks between San Jose and San Francisco.

Vice Mayor Donna Colson said the structure will be built mostly on Caltrain property, but will also spillover onto city property — about 10 feet. And the 10-year-old Corporation Yard building will not have to be torn down to accommodate the paralleling station, she added.

Burlingame will also provide a temporary construction easement and permanent access and maintenance easement for the project.

Construction on the station is expected to begin late this year. It will mostly be done at night and should take three to five months to wrap up.

Lieberman said Caltrain will continue to conduct outreach along the corridor to let people know how electrification will affect them.

“We’re always willing to work with communities and city staff to find solutions to any concerns that arise,” he said.

Electrification related construction is currently happening in what Caltrain officials call “segment two,” which extends from South San Francisco to Atherton with Burlingame in the middle. At this point, pre-construction work is complete, while tree pruning and removal, potholing and foundation installation is underway. The poles that support the wires that supply power to the trains will be installed in Burlingame in the fall of this year. That work should take four to five months to complete and will also largely occur at night.

zachary@smdailyjournal.com

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