Caltrain is staying

By Matt Rupel

Don't return your Giants season tickets just yet.

Caltrain introduced revisions to the service and fare changes last week that include retaining weekday service to the Santa Clara station as well as special event service such as baseball games.

In February, the board declared a fiscal emergency of an estimated $35.7 million deficit, proposed the initial changes and called for public hearings on the proposals. The response from the Bay Area was loud enough that the changes were revised.

According to the Caltrain web site, after the initial proposal of changes was made (which included terminating weekday service to Santa Clara as well as special event service), the Caltrain Board of Directors listened to nearly 3,000 public comments made through e-mail, phone calls and town meetings and worked to revise the proposed changes to better accommodate the fiscal emergency while retaining as much service as possible.

The new proposal includes a 25 cent increase of the base price, parking fare increases, savings of fuel cost and a reduction in operating costs, achieved by reducing the operating crews, maintenance staff and equipment as well as the number of stops made by each train.

While the immediate danger may have faded, Caltrain could face future funding crises. The university is hosting a town meeting in partnership with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group to ensure the future of the Santa Clara station, as well as proper funding for Caltrain. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. on April 25 in the Locatelli Student Center. Students who care about the continued service of Caltrain are encouraged to attend.

Contact Matt Rupel at mrupel@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4546.