The Joint Powers Board (JPB) approved the strategy and scope of work for the Caltrain Business Plan. The plan will define the long-term vision for the fast-growing commuter rail system that connects San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
The work outlined in the plan, which was passed by the JPB at its February board meeting, will allow Caltrain to identify a service model that supports long-term regional job and population growth, and surging ridership demand. This work will involve an exploration of economic, policy and technical approaches that will provide a better understanding of passenger needs and opportunities to maximize the value of Caltrain for local communities.
The scope of work defines how Caltrain will effectively implement this strategy. Caltrain staff will analyze changing demographics and travel patterns to identify options for the growth of the service, and to determine how best to serve the evolving needs of riders for the years to come.
The Caltrain Business Plan will also look at long-range opportunities to integrate regional rail services that could traverse and connect to the Caltrain corridor. The final Business Plan will include specific targets for service and capacity growth that will describe how Caltrain should grow to meet market demand. This includes development of an organizational strategy that provides a framework for contracting, management and governance decisions that will best support the service vision.
The Business Plan will also examine the impact Caltrain has on communities and will explore opportunities for increased rail service to support local and regional land-use strategies. This includes looking at the immediate impacts an evolving Caltrain service would have on the physical footprint of cities, particularly around stations and where the rail corridor crosses local streets and roads. The Business Plan will also evaluate funding opportunities to deliver the recommended improvements and support the long-term growth of the system.
