Over $366 million from San Mateo County’s Measure A sales tax fund was approved last week by the San Mateo County Transportation Authority Board of Directors to advance rail safety and mobility projects.
Most of that — over $340 million — will fund the final design phase and construction of the Broadway Grade Separation Project, a major redo of the Caltrain station in Burlingame that will involve widening and raising the tracks above street level.
The project is expected to improve traffic congestion and allow trains to move through the station from both directions, rather than waiting for one direction to pass, and improve emergency vehicle response times, according to the city of Burlingame.
Measure A is a half-cent sales tax that was first passed in 1988 and was reauthorized by voters in 2004 for another 25 years, starting in 2009. It funds a variety of transportation projects and is administered by the San Mateo County Transportation Authority Board of Directors.
The seven-member independent board is made up of appointees that represent the county, cities, and San Mateo Transit District.
The Broadway Grade Separation Project is the highest priority rail grade separation in the state, according to the San Mateo County Transportation Authority.
Those projects move train tracks above street level, improving safety and traffic flows. In Burlingame, the work will involve demolishing the existing station at Broadway and reconfiguring boarding platforms to allow trains to move through the station from both directions simultaneously.
“These projects will help protect pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists while improving mobility and supporting a more reliable transportation network throughout San Mateo County.”
Julia Mates, SMCTA Board of Directors Chairperson
“Improving safety at rail crossings remains one of the most important transportation investments we can make for our communities,” said Belmont Mayor Julia Mates, who is the Board of Directors’ chairperson. “These projects will help protect pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists while improving mobility and supporting a more reliable transportation network throughout San Mateo County.”
The Transportation Authority Board of Directors also approved another roughly $23 million in Measure A funding that will pay for safety improvements at all 28 Caltrain rail crossings that are at street level, known as at-grade crossings, and a variety of other Caltrain station improvements and studies for future work.