Caltrain's $20.5 Million Birthday Gift to Burlingame

Caltrain unwraps $20.5 million birthday gift to Burlingame (by Mark Abramson, MediaNews) Burlingame officials and other dignitaries turned out Thursday to open Caltrain's "100th" birthday gift to the city, a remodeled train station. "This is a momentous day," Mayor Rosalie O'Mahony said. "All of Burlingame has been looking forward to this exquisite birthday gift. It's just a wonderful moment in time." O'Mahony pointed out that the train station needed a face-lift back in 1994 for its own 100th birthday. City Councilwoman Cathy Baylock, who is also treasurer for the Burlingame Historical Society, called the station "the heart of Burlingame," noting there was nothing around for miles when it was built. The $20.5 million station remodeling at Burlingame Avenue and California Drive took a year to complete, and the goal was to get it done this month as the city wraps up its yearlong centennial celebration. The project included building covered shelters in the same Spanish architecture as the station to keep waiting passengers dry in wet weather, replacing the center platform with fencing between the northbound and southbound tracks, and installing a platform for the northbound trains so riders do not have to cross the tracks to board. The 114-year-old station building was renovated as well. The new platform layout allows two trains to use the station at the same time, which was previously prohibited for safety reasons. Caltrain officials said that with Burlingame no longer a "hold-out station," service should speed up. "We are very proud of this new facility," Caltrain board member Arthur Lloyd said. "Like most cities, Burlingame grew up around the railroad." Lloyd said the project is just one part of the plan to remodel Caltrain's remaining hold-out stations to speed service along the line, which stretches roughly 80 miles from San Francisco to Gilroy. Caltrain and city officials also touted the new landscaping, improved parking, wider sidewalks and added safety features, such as pedestrian crossing arms. A public address and visual message system to announce the next trains to arrive was also added. The station is slated to serve as the future home for the historical society's museum.

- Written by Fiona

Comments

[Gracie Claire]

Wow.. That is really very high pricey gift!! I just finding a way to finance the purchase.

[Holy Roller]

What happened to the urban reforestation program "The City of Trees" touted?
It has been 5-6 months since two homeowners stopped the replanting of ALL TREE replacement.
In the mean time lots of trees are being removed.
There are six "Heritage Trees" that will be removed in Washington Park in the next fiscal year.
They will not be replaced until "the two" tell the City of Burlingame what there urban reforestation program is. These are really big trees. If you want conformation, you have to ask the right questions. Call Randy Schartz.
This issue is one of those "ugly secrets".. code word, "political" that we, as citizens of Burlingame find out by accident.

[Linda]

Does anyone really believe that the train station upgrade was a "gift" to Burlingame? Caltrain upgraded to make sure that they do not kill too many of us as they run super fast nonstopping trains both directions at the same time--this is about speed and running more trains--not about us. Read what the Caltrain people have to say "speed, speed and more speed." This is to keep us away from the track as the speeding bullets of trains go roaring by. If Caltrain cared about Burlingame, we would have a raised track and not the crazy pedestrian situation that those of us who live across the tracks from the "Ave" now have to traverse --which by the way takes us away from the lovely historical old train station rather than near it. Not a brush of fresh paint or fresh anything has gone onto the train station itself. There is not a scrap of charm or village anything. They have created an urban setting. What the new stuff says to us--who have put up with so much construction and the never ending detours--is that we are cut off from the "Ave" by long black fences and little yellow gates. All so that Caltrain can run fast monster trains --not for Burlingame--for profit. Yes, it is shiny and new and much safer--but in the long run we have lost much more than we have gained.

[Kevin Hecteman]

Y'know, the Catrain bashing is getting really old. It may interest you to know that Caltrain does not have a dedicated funding source. If I were in that situation, I'd be maximizing revenue as much as possible. The Baby Bullets are a big part of that.

As far as safety goes: You don't need to build the "Burlingame El" or "The Great Wall of Burlingame" (a berm). You just need the common sense to stay off the tracks if you see a train coming. Rocket science, this is not.

Instead of jumping in here and bashing Caltrain, perhaps the good people of Burlingame would be better served lobbying for more Caltrain funding. Then maybe much-needed service improvements might actually happen.

[Terry Nagel]

We are very grateful to Caltrain for upgrading our station in a way that makes it blend beautifully with its surroundings. Caltrain paid more for this station than any other hold-out renovation on its line. It is tribute to an agency that listened to and worked with the community.

I remain concerned that people are not aware of the danger posed by speeding trains that no longer have to wait outside the station when another train is loading. In particular, I worry that high school students who are used to only looking in one direction may ignore the gates, while listening to iPods, and step into the path of an approaching train.

Please warn everyone using this crossing to pay attention and wait for the gate! You can download a colorful flyer that gives this message on the city's site at http://www.burlingame.org/?page=8recordid=1104returnURL=%2findex.aspx

[Donald]

The train station itself is being improved by The Burlingame Historical Society. They are going to turn the station into a history museum. The outside will be painted shortly and the interior is being renovated. They will be doing this with funds donated by the community. Please make a donation to help renovate the station.

[Holy Roller]

I think any renovation to that station is a waste of money and energy.
It would be as cost efficent to tear it down and build it again as it once was.
ADA, fire regulations, eartquake retrofit, would be the smart way to go..
Same goes with the Rec. Center.
Please email your ideas to our City of Burlingame Elders.
A great example is the Easton Libary.
Some body should have gone to jail for that expenditure.
The decision to spend all that money on a free day care center for a private Catholic School was the most inappropriate use of City of Burlingame public funds that has evre occured.
I would not be surprised if the Federal Gov becomes invovlved at some point in the future.

I don't know if you have been into the Easton Library, HR, but it is a gem. It is exactly what a neighborhood library should be and a library which is enjoyed by many. There was alot of excitement at the reopening of the library especially with the Lions Den and the seating around the fireplace which is icing on the cake!

As far as funding, this information came from the city website:

Thanks to a wave of community support, a complete restoration and upgrade of the building was completed in 2004. The community, as well as the Burlingame Library Foundation, raised nearly $1,000,000 in private donations to reconstruct and refurbish the Pueblo Mission style structure.
In my opinion, it was money well fundraised by the community and the Library Foundation. It also goes to show that $1 million can be raised in Burlingame with the proper leadership, a trust the project will get done well and in a timely manner and when our citizens feel it is a worthwhile cause.

Any monies for our two libraries is well spent because they are two important community centers for all ages, no money or donations are asked to use it, the library has superb storytimes for our children, the staff are helpful, there are free events like Shakespeare and movies and events for children and adults, the library promotes reading and they are beautiful too!

[LH]

I agree with you Fiona. The libraries are a gem and in my opinion, money well spent. I see lots of people in the library and not just the "free day care" people you talk about H.R. You are a hypocrite H.R. You don't want an old tree that is dying or diseased and a danger to the community to be cut down, but an old historical building you want bulldozed immediately! I for one am happy that the funds were raised to save the Easton Library.

[Kevin Hecteman]

And now, we rejoin our original program already in progress :-)

Thanks for the link, Terry. That flier deserves to be widely distributed. People just need to be aware of their surroundings. As I stated above, avoiding being hit by a train is not rocket science.

Another good Web site to check out is that of Operation Lifesaver at www.oli.org.

[Holy Roller]

I believe the libraries are beautiful and worthy.
The point I was attempting make was a lot of time, money, and politics went into a hidden gem that only a few people will only experience.
Mills Canyon is another example.
A couple of people complained to the City Elders about placing direction signs to Mills Canyon.

I agree with you about Mills Canyon. The neighbors would like the best kept secret in Burlingame to be just that - a big secret.

Too bad because it is the most beautiful part of our town and we are lucky to have such a pristine pocket of natural beauty in Burlingame.

###

Re the station renovation - some of it is hokey (the ooompa loompa huts and the rocks) but the green fencing is a vast improvement to the original fencing Caltrain proposed and, despite the importance of safety first, I miss the pathways through to Washington Park. Plus 5+ years ago we could use the train station restrooms which was an important asset for those waiting for a train.

Things will be even better when the train station finally gets painted, we can use the museum restrooms and we can spruce up the parking lot in front with a tree or two or three. Then it should be almost perfect!

[Lauren]

I live a block from the train station and I'm THRILLED by the upgrades. Please note that Caltrain is serious about the fines - several co-workers received ~$270 fines for cutting across while the gates were still moving (Menlo Park).

But what is the deal with Mike Harvey parking his autos along East Lane? Does he own that property or does he pay hefty rent to the city?

[Linda]

First, it is the idea that this is a "gift" I do not agree with. I am not bashing CalTrain. They are doing the right thing--protecting people from being run down by very fast trains--and they know that people listen to music with little receptors deep in their ears and do not hear the trains coming--and they cross. If a fine will save a life, I say fine away. It was never safe to cross the tracks like we did in the middle.
I do think that we have lost any sense of pedestrian "friendliness" as we approach the train station and try to go around it to access the avenue. The crosswalks do not work well now. Many of the cars coming from the south parallel to the tracks heading towards Burlingame High School just blow on by the stop sign at the corner of the "Candy Store" -as they look left at the new shelters. Someone needs to study this intersection area and make some changes before the pedestrians who now will not be killed by trains get run over by cars.

[Kevin Hecteman]

Fiona:

By "ooompa loompa huts," do you mean these?

Yes - they are affectionally known as the oompa loompas because of their scale.

[Donald]

Affectionatly known by whom? You? I personally think the waiting stations look great. Especially compared to the typical waiting stations that they could have been--plasticy looking substandard shelters. The shelters are compliments to the building they are in front of. Seems like some people walk through life looking for something to complain about. It also seems this blog is the place to do it. How bout we stop whining for the Summer.

[Holy Roller]

Hey Donald, have you also considered the racism involved in the "OL word"?
How horrible those OLs' must feel.