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Rail News Home Passenger Rail

8/27/2010



Rail News: Passenger Rail

Caltrain eyes service cuts, fare hikes; BART delays fare increase


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Caltrain’s board is considering fare increases and service cuts to offset a projected $2.3 million budget deficit for fiscal-year 2011.

The only Bay Area transit agency without a dedicated funding source, Caltrain has lost $10 million in state funds each year for the past three years, according to the agency. Last year, the state eliminated State Transportation Assistance funds. As a result, Caltrain partners the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, San Mateo County Transit District and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority reduced their support.

Cost-cutting proposals under consideration include suspending all weekend service; reducing weekday early morning, midday and/or late evening service; suspending service south of Tamien-to-Gilroy; discontinuing staffed ticket offices; increasing the full fare, one-way base or zone fares by 25 cents with corresponding changes to related fares; increasing the cost of a Go Pass to $155; and modifying parking fees and regulations.

Meanwhile, Bay Area Rapid Transit’s board voted yesterday to delay a scheduled fare hike by six months. The increase, originally scheduled to take place Jan. 1, 2012, now will take effect July 1, 2012.

The amount of the increase has not yet been determined, but is estimated to be about 1.5 percent. The delay was proposed after agency officials learned the agency would have a $4.5 million budget surplus for FY2011.