Caltrain budget fares well
July 2, 2009
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| Averted: Caltrain’s initial budget deficit estimate could have resulted in an across-the-board fare hike and weekend service cuts. (Examiner File Photo) |
After initially warning passengers it may introduce significant service cuts and raise fares, Caltrain is now poised to balance its budget without any major changes — a far cry from actions by other Bay Area transit agencies.
Thursday, Caltrain’s board of directors will vote on three measures that, if approved, would bring the transit agency an additional
$2.6 million for the upcoming fiscal year, according to spokeswoman Christine Dunn.
Measures include a proposal to increase daily parking fees to $3 from $2 and a plan to eliminate four midday trains. A third measure would raise the annual price employers pay per employee for transit passes known as Go Passes to $140 from $112.75.
Caltrain initially projected a $10.1 million deficit for the 2009-10 fiscal year, a shortfall that had the transit agency proposing everything from eliminating weekend train service to increasing all fares by 25 cents.
However, Caltrain managed to avert that fate in large part by securing a $2 million state grant for operating costs and identifying $3.7 million in unused funding from the previous year’s fuel budget, Dunn said. Caltrain also cut operating costs in several different departments, including the trimming of $410,000 in administrative expenses, she said.
“We were able to reduce our budget deficit enough to avoid going through with some of the more unattractive proposals,” Dunn said.
By cutting the four midday trains, the transit agency will save $1.9 million annually, she said. The increase in parking fees will generate $420,000.
The higher cost of Go Passes, which participating employers must buy for all employees, will generate $263,000, according to Dunn. To qualify for Go Passes, companies must have at least 70 employees. The passes are often used as job perks, she said.
If the increase is approved, the Go Passes would cost more beginning Aug. 1. The parking fee increases and the reduced midday trains would take effect Sept. 1.
Caltrain’s method of balancing its budget is different from that of BART and Muni, both of which raised fares Wednesday. Muni increased single fares by 50 cents to $2 and the price of monthly passes to $55 from $45. BART increased most fares by 6.1 percent, added $4 to a surcharge paid by passengers traveling to or from San Francisco International Airport and raised the cost of the least expensive ride to $1.75 from $1.50.
Changes on the horizon
The following proposals are awaiting approval from Caltrain directors:
Parking
- Daily fee increases to $3 from $2
- Monthly fee increases to $30 from $20
Go Passes
- Annual cost per employee increases to $140 from $112.75
Service cuts
- Four midday trains will be eliminated in each direction
Source: Caltrain
wreisman@sfexaminer.com
