UPDATE: Caltrain Postpones Vote on Service Cuts to Palo Alto Stations

Caltrain's Board of Directors has decided to postpone voting on a set of service cuts and fare hikes intended to save the agency from financial disaster—but which would have spelled the end of weekend service to Palo Alto's California Avenue and San Antonio stations.

This afternoon the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board voted unanimously at its meeting in San Carlos to put off the vote on the money-saving measures for two weeks.

Peninsula residents packed the board's meeting room and an overflow room to voice their opinions on the proposed changes. Speakers at the meeting overwhelmingly opposed the service cuts.

If the agency's board eventually approves the proposed cuts, Caltrain riders will be paying more to ride fewer trains operating out of fewer stations.

The meeting comes after Monday's tentative decision by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) on a fiscal-financial plan that would hike fares and increase the number of trains running during the weekdays. Part of the plan includes cutting weekend service.

If the plan is eventually passed, people will have 28 more trains running every 10-20 minutes during peak commuting hours, according to Caltrain officials. The 76-train proposal is a 60 percent increase over the previously proposed cut of service down to 48 trains. Currently, there are 86 trains running. The new proposal is a less drastic cut.

Net operating costs would lighten by about $3.3 million as a result of the new schedule, Caltrain officials said. Fare hikes and higher parking fees will generate $2 million.

“The 76-train proposal is a significant improvement over the worst-case scenario, and there is a lot to like in the new schedule,” said Caltrain executive director, Michael J. Scanlon. “It actually provides more service to some stations than they have now and it preserves the competitive travel times our customers have come to expect from Caltrain.”

Stations at 22nd Street, Bayshore, South San Francisco, Broadway, Hayward Park, Belmont, San Carlos, Atherton and Lawrence will also have their weekend service cut. The new weekend schedule purports to provide commuters with faster trip times.

Scanlon emphasized that this proposed solution to Caltrain’s fiscal crisis is only temporary.

“This is an emergency, short-term fix and it does not address the core financial issues that continue to threaten Caltrain service,” Scanlon said. “Caltrain needs a permanent, dedicated source of revenue. Without that, the fiscal crisis we faced this year will only get worse, and the future of the rail system will continue to be in doubt.”

Scanlon added that the agreement covers only the coming 2012 fiscal year. Caltrain partners and MTC will continue to negotiate through the summer in hopes of reaching an agreement this fall on how to address Caltrain budget shortfalls for 2013, he said.

“In addition, the service plan should be revisited as circumstances change,” Scanlon said. “For instance, there are a number of transit-oriented development projects that, if implemented, could create higher demand and warrant service restoration.”

On Thursday, the Caltrain Joint Powers Board will meet at 10 a.m. in San Carlos for its regular monthly meeting.