Palo Alto City Council
September 16, 2024
Caltrain
Electrification +
City Partnerships
Caltrain Context
• 77 miles of track from end to end
• 31 stations
• Bi-directional commute
• 41 at-grade crossings
• Financial Challenges
• Pre-pandemic 73% farebox recovery (nation
leading)
• Today: 23% farebox recovery (facing upcoming
average $77M annual deficit)
2 Ridership Growth / Cost Containment
• Board Adopted Equity, Growth, and Recovery Policy
• Revised schedule: Standardize, focused on more midday, evening and weekend service (diversify ridership)
• Regional Coordination: Coordinated transfers, better signage Millbrae, GM group, Bay Pass participation, Clipper Start, fare integration • City Partnerships and toolkit: www.caltrain.com/citypartnership • Pass Forward Program: Bringing in new riders by providing free passes for low- income and equity priority community riders
• Customer Experience/Fare Changes: $1 youth pass; 300 new bicycle eLockers, new ticket options, new visual display signs being installed, station work, positive brand recognition
• Cost Containment: Smaller trainsets, scheduling efficiencies, reduced overtime, internal efficiency programs
• Electrification Planned September 21, 2024
Transformational Moment
Caltrain is the oldest continuously operating passenger railroad in the West (160 years) Steam 1864 Diesel 1950s Electric 2024
7 First time in a generation any US system fully converted from diesel to electric system INSTRUCT IONSKey Milestones
Complete:
• Foundations (3,000+)
• Poles (2,500+)
• Traction Power Facilities (10)
• Overhead Wire (2.5 million feet)
• Upgraded the Signal System San Francisco
to San Jose (31 at grade crossings)
• 12 trainsets delivered (more coming)
• Over 1,000 First Responders Trained
• Soft Launch (August 2024)
Upcoming:
• Additional trainsets and testing (Throughout 2024)
• Fully Electric Passenger Service: September 21, 2024
5 Public Train Tours – 12,000 People
(San Jose, San Francisco; San Carlos)
7 Electrified Service Plan Benefits
Express from SF to SJ
in under an hour
Quicker local service,
77 minutes instead of
100
Save more than 20
minutes on trips from
Southern Santa Clara
County to SF
Ride More, Wait Less First Class for Everyone Clean and Green Improved service for all riders
7 GHG emissions reduced
by 250K MTCO2
annually – equivalent to
taking 55,000 cars off
the road each year
Improves local air quality
Quieter trains, both
onboard and off
Free Wi-Fi
Smoother, quieter
experience
Outlets at every seat
Digital trip information
onboard
Spacious, accessible
bathrooms
20% more train service
26% more train service at
equity priority stations
Half-hourly service during
weekends and off-peak
Get There Faster
Electrified Service Plan
Palo Alto
8 Weekday Schedule: www.caltrain.com/media/33909
Weekend Schedule: www.caltrain.com/media/33908
City Fact Sheets
www.caltrain.com/servicebenefits
Public Outreach Safety Campaign
• Community Meetings
• Residential Mailers
• Onboard Outreach
• School Campaign
• Public Service
Announcements
• Right-of-way outreach
Safety Video at
caltrain.com/safety Right-of-Way Flyer Residential Mailer 10 11
• Main Events:
o Palo Alto Station Sept
21 2pm - 6pm
o Eshoo Train Ride Sept 21
o San Mateo Station Sept 22
2pm - 6pm
• Additional events at every city
along the corridor
• 100% Electric fleet from San
Francisco to San Jose
• Faster, More Frequent
Schedule
• Free Caltrain Rides
September Launch Parties - September 21 & 22
www.caltrain.com/launchparty
Connect with Caltrain Electrification
12 • Learn more at caltrain.com/electrification
• Sign-up for Project Updates: caltrain.com/get-involved • Share Caltrain Electrification Benefits and News
City Partnership/Toolkit
Vital Role of
Caltrain -City
Partnerships
The ability of Caltrain to sustain
and expand service will depend in
large part on cities actively
supporting expansion of ridership
to groups beyond Caltrain’s
traditional core riders.
Caltrain -City Partnership Toolkit
In partnership we can increase transit ridership and:
● Reduce traffic and parking demand
● Support downtown recovery (vibrancy and tax revenues) ● Improve employee recruitment and retention
● Incentivize workers to return to the office
● Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
● More Info at: caltrain.com/citypartnership
Creating vibrant, diverse, people-centered communities where people gather, work and connect
15 ● City Worker Go Passes
● Transportation Demand Management
● Development Agreements
● Local Ordinances
● Transportation Management
Association
● Station Access
● Parking Management
● Transit Oriented Development
Partnership
Models
16 Request:
Palo Alto
Support
Caltrain -City
Principles
Palo Alto has been a leader on
the corridor
Caltrain staff offer to present to
the Rail Committee to provide
more information and feedback
on Caltrain/City partnership
principles
18 Draft Policy
Overview
19 Caltrain is a customer-focused rail system. Our mission is to offer safe, reliable, accessible, and sustainable transportation service that enhances quality of life for all.
The Caltrain Station Access Policy supports Caltrain’s vision of being a vital link in the regional and statewide rail network by:
• Improving connectivity to communities and other transit systems. • Contributing to the region’s economic vitality.
• Partnering with local communities to ensure that diverse constituencies receive a world-class travel experience.
Policy Purpose Statement
Safe Routes To, From, and Through Stations
Goals
Caltrain Access Policy Update
20 World-Class Customer Access Experience for All Users Ridership Growth through Strategic Access Investments
Equitable Access Aligned with Diverse Community Needs
Healthy and Sustainable Modes of Access
Strategic Partnerships to Advance Station Access
1 RecapGoals and Objectives
2 3
4 5
6 21
The Access Hierarchy is the systemwide
aspirational framework to:
1) Guide station area planning and
investment decisions.
2) Be used as a tool for decision making
and weighing the tradeoffs of access
investments to ensure sustainable
modes are the highest priority.
3) Ensure proposed access improvements
prioritize pedestrians, biking/ shared
micromobility, and transit facilities as the
highest priority.
Access Hierarchy
All Caltrain riders are pedestrians at some point in
their journey. This includes people walking on foot,
using wheelchairs and other mobility devices, and
children in strollers.
All forms of shared micromobility such as bike share
and scooter share, and private bicycles and scooters.
All connecting transit and shuttle services to
Caltrain stations including bus, paratransit, private
shuttles, light-rail, and other heavy-rail operators.
Taxis, all forms of ride-hailing services, and private
drop-off.
Private and shared vehicle parking facilities.
22 Implementation Plan
The following eight next steps support the application of the Station Access Policy and are organized in short, medium, and long-term time periods.
Short term (0-2 years)
• Dissemination of the Station Access Policy
• Update the Caltrain Design Guidelines and Criteria
• Develop a Parking and Curbside Management Strategy
• Develop a Station Access Database
Mid-term (2-5 years)
• Document the Process for Access Improvements
• Conduct Station Needs Assessments
• Complete Project Identification, Evaluation, and Prioritization Long-term (5+ years)
• Project Delivery and Policy Review
23 The Station Access Toolkit provides examples of actions to inform decision making that users of the Station Access Policy may select from when identifying possible access improvements.
The Access Toolkit is comprised of actions organized into five categories:
1) Customer Experience
2) Active Transportation
3) Transit and Shuttles
4) Private Vehicles and Parking
5) Partnerships
Station Access Toolkit
Questions