Steep funding gap ahead for train safety projects in San Mateo County

The highest priority effort is near the Broadway station in Burlingame, however, which is frequently cited as the most dangerous rail crossing in the state, given the 13 vehicle collisions that have occurred on or near the intersection since 2016 — which included two fatalities. But recent estimates to build the grade separation more than doubled from 2022 estimates, going from $316 million to $889 million as of 2025. Recent efforts to reduce the total price tag to about $615 million would mean closing down the Broadway station entirely, which was not part of the original plan. 

The increase is due to a variety of factors, a large one being Caltrain’s inaccurate 2022 estimate, which was derived primarily from design, not construction, consultants. The cost has also increased due to the need to work around live electrified infrastructure, which was fully implemented in September 2024.  

“That’s a $300 million scholarship to educate Caltrain on modern construction theory and planning,” Burlingame Mayor Peter Stevenson said. “They didn’t have the expertise to do this ... we told them to do this project before electrification because electrification adds time and cost, so the reality is, we don’t have confidence in that relationship structure.” 

Now the TA is faced with whether to focus most of its available funds on the Burlingame project or spread out funding to the others, such as South Linden and Ravenswood, so that each grade separation effort can continue advancing toward a “shovel ready” status — meaning all permits and approvals are finalized, therefore increasing the chances of receiving outside funding. 

The Transportation Authority funds grade separation projects via the county’s half-cent sales taxes, Measure A and Measure W, and tends to finance no more than 50% of the cost. The respective cities would need to secure the remainder, which for Burlingame, would require more than $300 million in state and federal grants.  

Funding 50% of all three grade separation projects — Broadway, South Linden and Ravenswood — would cost the TA about $658 million. 

“If we were able to provide 50% of the total project cost for each of those projects, the need would be $658 million. We only have $313 million. We cannot even provide the 50% for all those projects,” Director of Project Delivery Jess Manzi said. “And at the same time, that leaves the other $658 million for the project sponsors — the local jurisdictions — to fund, whether it be through local funding sources [or] state and federal grants, so it’s not very uplifting.” 

Federal grants are also particularly tenuous, given rollbacks and recently imposed tariffs that could also affect overall costs.  

Several board members, including Noelia Corzo, board member and San Mateo County supervisor, said they’d like to continue supporting other grade separation projects in addition to the Burlingame Broadway intersection. 

“I’m leaning towards funding multiple projects to shovel-ready status, but with the very clear strong commitment that we do try to help find money for the Burlingame project as well,” Corzo said.