The Caltrain funding saga has a long history. But news reported in the Daily Journal this week of increased ridership (up 13% year-over-year) and commitments from the three partners appear to have made the number for another year
To close next year’s deficit, the three agencies that support the rail line, SamTrans, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority have agreed to contribute $33.5 million to the fiscal year 2012-13 operations budget, up from the $25.4 million the three agencies contributed this year.
Caltrain closed last year’s nearly $30 million deficit with one-time fund swaps approved by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
Moving forward, budget deliberations will include changes in the formula used to determine how much each partner will pay toward the operations of Caltrain. VTA has also agreed to discuss resumption of the full cost of operating service to Gilroy.
For FY 2012-13, SamTrans will contribute $14 million to Caltrain; SF Muni will contribute $5.8 million; and VTA will contribute $13.7 million.
Could it be that the impending demise of High Cost Rail woke up SamTrans, SF Muni and the VTA to the fact that they need to do this on their own? Probably not, but it does make one wonder what changed from last February?
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