Caltrain Holds Final Public Hearing Before Vote
SAN CARLOS, Calif. (KCBS) _ Caltrain will keep weekend service, but fare hikes and fewer trains are still expected because of significant budget problems.
Riders sounded off on Thursday at the final public hearing held before the Caltrain board votes on the changes.
"I don't want one penny of an increase for the disabled fare," said one angry patron.
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He was not the only as several passengers voiced their displeasure as the agency tries to close a $1.6 million deficit for the rest of the fiscal year.
Caltrain staff is recommending a fare hike of as much as 25-cents a ride or per zone and a cut in the number of off-peak weekday trains.
But other proposals were taken off the table because of complaints according to Caltrain Rail Transportation Director Michelle Bouchard.
"We recommend against further consideration of Gilroy service suspension and weekend service suspension," she said. "And this is based on the overall economics and rider impact."
Although many riders expressed their frustrations, others came up with their own possible solutions.
"Switching weekend service to an express or limited schedule," said one rider. "Removing some of the stops. It seems pretty clear that this would have a cost-cutting effect on the system."
Caltrain's board will vote on the proposed fare hikes and service cuts at its meeting on October 7.
