 |
|
|
Membership |
|
|
|
|
News and Issues |
|
|
|
|
Departments |
|
|
|
|
Secretary-
Treasurers |
|
|
|
|
Information |
|
|
|
|
Communications |
|
|
|
|
FELA |
|
|
|
|
Events |
|
|
|
|
Links |
|
|
|
|
User Info |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Problems could be derailing Caltrain
(The following article by Justin Jouvenal was posted on the San Mateo County Times website on March 4.)
SAN CARLOS, Calif. -- Facing a record deficit, Caltrain officials Thursday took steps toward instituting what some call "drastic" fare increases and service cuts, as well as declaring they may not have enough money to make ends meet within the next year.
The Caltrain board of directors did not put forward a proposal for specific changes, but did schedule public hearings for April 7 to discuss fare increases and service cuts, and possibly declaring a "fiscal emergency." That designation would signify that the transit agency doesn't have enough working capital to cover costs within one year.
Caltrain is facing a $12 million deficit during the next fiscal year, which equals about
16 percent of its roughly $75 million budget. The frustrating irony for Caltrain officials is that the rail line is experiencing a large surge in ridership and revenue since the introduction of "baby bullet" express service last summer.
"This is a very serious moment. What we have is success," said Robert Doty, acting chief operating officer for Caltrain. "At the same time, we can't support that success. It's like a pro football team with a star player and a salary cap."
Caltrain is facing a deficit because it has largely exhausted the one-time funding sources it has used to balance the budget over the past three years and the agency has just $1.2 million
in reserves in the bank.
The San Francisco, San Mateo County and Santa Clara County transit agencies that fund nearly half of Caltrain's budget have also not increased their shares over the past several years because they have faced their own budget shortfalls. Meanwhile, Caltrain's fuel and service contract costs have increased.
So far, it appears the agencies in San Francisco and Santa Clara County won't increase their funding for the 2006 budget either.
"I would not close the door to increasing our share, but it has been a struggle this year just to maintain the money that we have put in," said Michael Burns, a Caltrain board member and general manager
for San Francisco's MUNI.
MUNI is facing a $57 million budget shortfall next year.
Ken Yeager, a Valley Transportation Authority member on the Caltrain board, said he would make the case to his agency for increasing Santa Clara County's share of the Caltrain budget, but he said the VTA would likely not be able to do it.
Caltrain officials said major service cuts or fare increases are not a foregone conclusion. They will explore various options — from increasing revenues to making the railroad more efficient — to stave off changes that might scare away riders.
"There's a real effort underway to avoid any major service cuts," said Jayme Maltbie Kunz,
a Caltrain spokeswoman.
At the Thursday meeting, riders suggested a number of ways to solve Caltrain's budget problems, from premium pricing for baby-bullet service to shutting down little-used stations. Caltrain officials will unveil various proposals for closing the deficit at a special budget workshop on March 22.
Caltrain fares were last increased in 2002. They were raised 10 percent.
Some Caltrain officials and transit activists said it is time to begin discussing a dedicated funding source for Caltrain to avoid future budget shortfalls. A dedicated source might include a sales tax, bridge toll or gas tax.
"Since Caltrain is such an important part of the regional transit system, we have to find a long-term regional solution to fund it," said Chuck Harvey, Caltrain's chief operating officer.
Friday, March 04, 2005
© 1997-2010 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
|
|
|
Safety Task Force Hotline
800-306-5414
Decertification Helpline
800-393-2716
DAILY HEADLINES
September 2, 2010
More Headlines
|
|
