Politics & Government

Caltrain Board Votes to Declare Fiscal Emergency

Move makes it easier for transit agency to raise rates or cut service.

Caltrain's board of directors voted this morning to declare a fiscal emergency to allow the agency more leeway in addressing its $30 million budget deficit.

The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board has declared a fiscal emergency for the struggling transit agency for the past several years. This declaration makes it easier for Caltrain to raise fares and reduce service, two options on the table as it tries to stay afloat.

Caltrain riders flooded the board meeting in San Carlos this morning to plead against station closures in their cities.

Find out what's happening in Menlo Park-Athertonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The board is considering terminating service at a number of Caltrain stations including South San Francisco, Belmont, San Bruno and the College Park station in San Jose.

"South San Francisco is one of the select cities along the Peninsula Caltrain corridor where jobs are being created," South San Francisco Mayor Kevin Mullin said at the meeting.

Find out what's happening in Menlo Park-Athertonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Several students from Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose said they depend on service at the College Park station.

"This is not simply a matter of convenience for the Bellarmine community," said Brian Adams, vice president for advancement at Bellarmine.

He said about 45 percent of the school's 2,000 Caltrain riders use services that are on the chopping block.

--Bay City News


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