Caltrain would keep all of its 86 weekday trains running for the next year if the agency's board of directors approves on Thursday staff's latest proposal.
The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB) is scheduled to vote tomorrow on a proposal that would raise base fares by 25 cents and increase the daily parking rate from $3 to $4 -- changes that would take effect July 1.
But the agency would not have to make the types of draconian service cuts that officials had previously considered to close the budget shortfall, which remains at $3.5 million for the next fiscal year. A new staff report suggests that the budget hole could be filled by increased contributions from its partner agencies. Caltrain doesn't have a dedicated funding source and relies on annual "donations" from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.
In a new report, staff is recommending keeping all 86 weekday trains running in fiscal year 2012. The report acknowledges, however, that maintaining this level of service is "contingent upon favorable conclusion of discussions among MTC (the Metropolitan Transportation Commission) and the JPB partner agencies."
The report projects the agency's revenues in fiscal year 2012 to be $99.3 million and its expenses to be $102.8 million. Staff is still working with the MTC and the three transit agencies that fund Caltrain to close the $3.5 million gap.
"Funds to fill the $3.5 million shortfall have been tentatively identified but are subject to positive ongoing discussions between the JPB partner agencies and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission," Michelle Bouchard, Caltrain's director of rail transportation, wrote in the report.
Staff is also recommending raising the monthly parking rate from $30 to $40.
The JPB board considered earlier this month a staff proposal to cut service from 86 trains to 76. The board delayed voting on the proposal to give staff more time to seek additional funding that would make the cuts unnecessary.
Staff is proposing to balance the 2012 budget using one-time funding sources such as rolling over the 2011 budget into next year and transferring funds from the capital program to preventive maintenance. At the same time, staff will continue to hold discussions with the partner agencies in hopes of getting increased contributions in future years.
"This will be challenging," Bouchard wrote in the new report. "JPB's reserves are below reasonable levels and JPB partners continue to experience reductions in their own sources of revenues largely attributable to the ongoing global recession."
Caltrain's board of directors is scheduled to vote on the latest staff proposal at 10 a.m. Thursday at SamTrans Administrative Offices in San Carlos.
Comments
Cuesta Park
on Apr 20, 2011 at 1:37 pm
on Apr 20, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Can we Say "PUNTING the ISSUE"? I am sure there is low rideship on at least one of the 86 trains.... I 90% empty trains at night....
Lets cut what is not needed so what if we have to cut a few jobs... we are in the business to provide jobs.... That is for companies to do and they can't do it if we raise rates and make cost of living higher for riders (just to prvent Cal Train layoffs which are necessary) and they need more pay..vicious cycle of economics....
Shoreline West
on Apr 20, 2011 at 1:53 pm
on Apr 20, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Isn't this the same method that winds up with them freaking out every year about how they don't have money...? Oy vey.
Registered user
North Whisman
on Apr 20, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Registered user
on Apr 20, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Does anyone know where I can find data on which stations have the lowest absolute ridership? The top ten stations by ridership are listed on page 9 of this report:
Web Link
And page 8 shows the change in ridership for each station between 2010 and 2011.
But the report does not have the table that I would want to see if I owned or operated Caltrain, which is: which stations generate more revenues than expenses, and which don't?
If the economically feasible core of the Caltrain line could be identified and served exclusively, the JPB could build a viable rail line bit by bit.
another community
on Apr 21, 2011 at 6:53 am
on Apr 21, 2011 at 6:53 am
Gcoladon -
The data on absolute ridership by station for every station (not just the top 10) is available in the full 2010 ridership report, here:
Web Link
I'm assuming they have the 2011 data too, they just haven't published the full report yet.