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12/7/2020
Caltrain’s board last week adopted a $66.4 million operating budget for the second half of fiscal-year 2021 and approved an amended $82.3 million FY2021 capital budget.
The FY2021 budget will have an estimated $25 million shortfall. To address it, the agency will cut costs by applying State Rail Assistance Program funds to the operating budget, drawing upon Caltrain’s existing line of credit, using a portion of the agency’s reserves, and diverting funding from some capital projects and preventative maintenance needs, Caltrain officials said in a press release.
While 60% of the budget is dedicated to Transit America Services Inc. (TASI), which contracts with Caltrain to operate, staff and maintain the Caltrain rail service, around 40 TASI employees will be furloughed starting in January 2021, the San Mateo Daily Journal reported.
Funding provided by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has allowed Caltrain to maintain service through the end of 2020, but CARES funds will be fully spent in December and additional cost-saving measures are needed to balance the budget through June 2021, Caltrain officials said.