Caltrain is working on a corridor-wide crossing strategy with goals to create a systematic approach for the 41 at-grade crossings along the corridor. 

One important question for crossing projects is the locations that Caltrain will reserve for long-term potential service increases and high speed rail.

Caltrain and High Speed Rail did several studies with different recommendations, leaving plans for some projects in limbo with regard to potential designs. 

At recent meetings, Caltrain shared that California Avenue is the site needed for passing tracks in North Santa Clara County, narrowing down a set of options that considered Palo Alto and San Antonio. 

In particular, this clarification will help with the City of Palo Alto’s planning for its grade separation projects.  Millbrae, Hayward Park/Hillsdale, and Redwood City are the other locations identified for 4-track segments.

The agreement a decade ago to enable High Speed Rail service on the Peninsula Corridor and to utilize High Speed Rail funds to electrify the corridor called for a “blended system” that would primarily use two tracks, but would have four-track segments enabling fast trains to pass slower trains. 

And Caltrain’s Business Plan in 2019 set a long-term service vision calling for up to 8 Caltrain trains per hour to accommodate ridership growth. This level of service would require passing tracks for Caltrain service, even if High Speed Rail was not yet traversing the Peninsula Corridor.  The Redwood City location would serve that function for Caltrain.

However, with slow ridership recovery following the pandemic, Caltrain isn’t anticipating ridership to recover to pre-pandemic levels for over a decade, so the need for infrastructure accommodating this level of service is likely longer term. 

Caltrain’s Corridor Crossing strategy combines working with cities and developing a long term program including funding, organization, and program delivery.  Ongoing grade separation projects are continuing in the meantime as Caltrain develops the larger program.