Caltrain plan would derail train-boosting efforts in Atherton Caltrain plan would derail train-boosting efforts in Atherton (March 30, 2005)

By Andrea Gemmet

Almanac Staff Writer

It looked like Atherton was on the right track to keep its historic station a viable, if not vital, part of the Caltrain line.

But not long after a successful lobbying effort to save weekend train service and get a few express trains to stop in town during commute hours, Atherton train enthusiasts are seeing their gloomiest predictions come true -- the town is facing the complete closure of the station, with trains hurtling by but none of them stopping.

Less than a month ago, things were on the upswing. News was spreading about the City Council's decision to offer free parking at the station. A Caltrain official came to pitch a $2 million project to upgrade the station.

An Atherton-initiated group of Midpeninsula cities with train stations, including Redwood City, Menlo Park, Palo Alto and Mountain View, was meeting regularly and beginning to coalesce around common rail corridor issues.

And early results from the town survey of Atherton households about Caltrain service were encouraging. As of mid-March, residents of 462 households said Caltrain service at the Atherton station was important to them, out of the 548 surveys returned so far, said City Manager Jim Robinson. About three-quarters of respondents favored increasing the level of train service, he said.

Now, Atherton officials and train service supporters are launching another lobbying effort to keep the Atherton station from becoming a relic.

On March 14, Caltrain staff unveiled a proposal to raise fares, increase the number of Baby Bullet express trains, and "suspend service" to the Atherton and three other train stations in order to cut costs and offer speedier service.

Caltrain officials, looking to relieve the agency's financial plight -- depleted reserves and a projected $13.6 million operating deficit -- are expected to decide whether to adopt the proposal at a special April 22 board meeting.

For Atherton Councilman Jim Janz, this outcome wasn't hard to predict. He called Caltrain's previous cuts in service to Atherton a "self-fulfilling prophesy."

"To make Atherton's use of the train look low, they keep cutting service to our station. If they stopped cutting our service, we'd get a lot more ridership," Mr. Janz said.

He cited statistics showing the station's number of average daily riders in the high 200s up until Caltrain cut back service in 2002. That year, Caltrain offered fewer and slower express train service to the town. Ridership dropped immediately, he said, and the most recent ridership survey had a daily count of about 113 riders.

"I've heard from people who stopped using the train because the times they offer now are inconvenient," Mr. Janz said.

Atherton officials aren't alone in their indignation. At a March 22 community meeting in San Carlos on the Caltrain changes, delegations representing riders using the Atherton, Broadway in Burlingame and College Park in Santa Clara stations packed the small auditorium and appealed for continued, and preferably improved, train service.
Information

** The Atherton Caltrain Corridor Subcommittee is set to discuss the proposed station closure at its April 7 meeting. Information is available at www.ci.atherton.ca.us or by calling 752-0500. ** Information on Caltrain's proposed train schedule and fare increases is available at Caltrain.org or by calling (800) 660-4287. Written comments can be sent via e-mail to changes@caltrain.com or to: Board Secretary, Caltrain, 1250 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos, CA 94070. A public hearing on the changes is set for 10 a.m. Thursday, April 7, at 1250 San Carlos Ave.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.