Publication Date: Wednesday Oct 14, 1998

TRANSPORTATION: Atherton may lose its train station

The people of Atherton could be facing a future without a train station if proposals to improve Caltrain service are adopted.

Atherton is one of six Peninsula stations earmarked for closure under the $900 million plan, which aims to cut up to 17 minutes off the travel time between San Francisco and San Jose.

Closing the stations is just one of the proposals made in a new report published by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, Caltrain's operator. The Caltrain Rapid Rail Study looks at ways to cut travel times and to improve the frequency, capacity and reliability of the service. It also outlines plans to make Caltrain a "better neighbor" by reducing pollution and making stations safer and more attractive.

"(The aim is) to increase the speed of the train, make it more attractive to riders," said SamTrans spokeswoman Rita Haskin. "It's one more incentive to get out of the car."

The first steps proposed are rehabilitation and enhancement of the existing railroad infrastructure. The work would include upgrades to the signal system and replacement of some of the track and other structures, at a projected cost of $543 million.

Another $376 million would be spent on track electrification, reducing travel times and cutting noise and air pollution.

The station closures will be considered in addition to these capital improvements. In addition to Atherton, the stations proposed for closure are Paul Avenue in San Francisco, Broadway in Burlingame, Bay Meadows in San Mateo, College Park in San Jose, and Castro in Mountain View.

These stations were chosen because they are underutilized. For example, only 206 passengers board at the Atherton station each weekday.

Even though the group is small, Atherton train commuters say the proposed closure would be an inconvenience.

Hans Endresen would have to bike from Atherton to catch the train in Menlo Park. "It would mean having to get a bike locker or something at Menlo Park. It would mean getting up half an hour earlier. It's already inconvenient that every other train doesn't stop here in the morning," said Endresen, who uses the train three days a week to get to his job in Sunnyvale.

The closures are not a forgone conclusion, Haskin said. "Not only would we work with the cities, but we would also work with our riders and the public. And we would certainly reconsider," she said.

The proposal also recommends closing 10 railroad grade crossings, including Watkins Avenue in Atherton and Glenwood Avenue in Menlo Park. This would prevent cars from crossing the tracks on these roads, although some access may be retained for pedestrians. These proposals will be discussed with the relevant cities and would require two to three years to implement.

But before Caltrain can make any of the proposals become reality, it needs to find more than $900 million.

"The funding has not been nailed down yet," Haskin said.

While Caltrain is fairly certain it will receive substantial federal and state funding, the local component is less clear, she added. Some funds may be available from San Mateo and Santa Clara county sales taxes, while other possible sources include the State Transportation Improvement Program and bridge toll revenues.

In addition, any improvement in the Caltrain service would mean an increase in the operating subsidy paid by the three members of the joint powers board, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

The draft report will be presented to the Caltrain board in November.

Looking farther ahead, the report recommends that Caltrain consider several expansion projects, including service across the Dumbarton rail bridge and a direct connection to San Francisco International Airport.

Public comment on the proposal is invited at the citizen advisory committee meetings of either Caltrain, at 6 p.m. Oct. 21, or the San Mateo Transportation Authority, at 4 p.m. Nov. 3. The Caltrain board meeting at 10 a.m. Nov. 5 is also open to the public. All three meetings will be at the SamTrans office at 1250 San Carlos Ave. in San Carlos.

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