Caltrain to consider fare increases, service suspensions

On Aug. 19, Caltrain will hold four community meetings to receive public comments regarding proposed fare increases and service suspensions for fiscal-year 2011. The following proposals will be considered:

• suspend all weekend service;
• reduce weekday early morning, midday and/or late evening service;
• suspend service south of Tamien to Gilroy, Calif.;
• discontinue staffed ticket offices;
• increase the full fare one-way base or zone fares by 25 cents with corresponding changes to related fares;
• increase the cost of the Go Pass to $155;
• modify parking fees and regulations; and
• revise codified tariff to reflect Clipper(SM) card implementation: discontinue Monthly Pass grace period; discontinue the use of 8-ride ticket by more than one passenger per ticket; redefine youth to 17 years and younger; and a charge for purchase of card.

Caltrain’s FY2011 operating budget, which has been adopted by the commuter railroad’s board, includes $2.3 million in unspecified service reductions and fare increases.

Caltrain has lost $10 million in state funds each year for the last three years. Last year, the state eliminated State Transportation Assistance funds, forcing Caltrain’s three partners — the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the San Mateo County Transit District and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority — to reduce their support.

“The partners have been paying for Caltrain out of our pockets, and our pockets are empty,” said Caltrain Executive Director Michael Scanlon in a prepared statement.

In addition, Caltrain’s ridership has dropped almost 6 percent during the past year, which agency officials attribute to fewer people commuting to work because of the recession.
Last year, eight midday trains were eliminated and parking fees were increased to close a $2.6 million budget gap.

The Caltrain Joint Powers Board will conduct a public hearing on the proposed fare increases and service reductions on Sept. 2.