Caltrain Threatens to Pass By South San Francisco

South San Francisco Caltrain riders may soon have to go to Millbrae to catch the commuter rail service.

Caltrain has proposed suspending service to South San Francisco as part of a drastic budget reduction plan to close a projected $30 million budget gap next fiscal year.

Sixteen stations could close, weekend service would be eliminated and the train would only run during weekday commute times.

“The concern is that when you take something away riders will now have to resort to go to Millbrae,” said Vice Mayor Richard Garbarino.  “Or they will just jump in their cars.”

Millbrae’s Caltrain station would remain open, as would the agency’s 12 other stations with the highest amount of riders.

With an average of 332 boardings a day, South San Francisco is ranked 21st  in ridership out of Caltrain’s 29 regular stations.

City officials say ridership is low in the city partly because big employers like Genentech shuttle their employees from the Millbrae station.

“South San Francisco BART and Caltrain have very low ridership numbers, and therefore we’ve been low on the totem pole,” said Councilwoman Karyl Matsumoto.

Garbarino said city officials have asked representatives from the city’s biotech firms to speak up at public hearings about the proposed cuts.

A hearing on the services changes, which includes a 25-cent fare increase, was held in San Carlos on Thursday.

It’s still early in the budget process, however, and Caltrain spokesman Mark Simon said the proposed cuts are just a starting point for public discussion.

“This is just where we are starting from,” Simon said.  “Is it what we want to do? Absolutely not.”

Caltrain is facing its worst financial crisis mainly due to an expected reduction in contributions from the City and County of San Francisco, the San Mateo County Transit District and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.

The three agencies provide about 40 percent of Caltrain’s operating revenue. SamTrans is planning to reduce its annual contribution by $10 million next fiscal year.

“Our bus service provides transportation to people who most need it,” said Matsumoto, who is also chairwoman of SamTrans’ Board of Directors. “We can’t afford to subsidize Caltrain to the level we are at.”

If the other agencies cut back their subsidies proportionally and Caltrain maintains the same train schedule, the deficit increases to $30 million, Simon said.

Even with the proposed reductions, Caltrain would still have a $4.7 million deficit. But Simon said the agency is accustomed to filling that kind of gap with one-time funds.

Matsumoto suggested that Caltrain pursue a steady revenue stream such as through a sales tax. “Unless you have a dedicated funding source you are going to keep throwing money at it,” she said.

Garbarino said ridership would increase in South San Francisco if Caltrain fixed up the stop, now without a platform and a dirt parking lot.

Plus, the city could attract more riders because it has more big employers than neighboring cities, he said.

“The jobs aren’t necessarily in Millbrae or San Bruno,” Garbarino said. “The jobs are in South San Francisco.”

The Caltrain board will conduct a public hearing on the budget on March 3, but Simon said no decisions would be made. Any changes would go into effect July 2.

If the South San Francisco stop closes, Matsumoto said the City Council would work with biotech companies to provide additional shuttle service to Millbrae.