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A public meeting on proposed increases to Caltrain ticket prices is set for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at the Mountain City Council Chambers, 500 Castro St.
Caltrain officials are seeking to increase fares by 25 cents per zone for paper tickets, and to eliminate eight-ride passes. Fares for passengers using Clipper cards, including for monthly passes, would remain the same.
The increased fares, which would become effective July 1, would raise the price of traveling from Mountain View to San Jose by 50 cents, from $4.75 to $5.25, and from Mountain View to San Francisco from $6.75 to $7.50.
Comments on the proposed fares may be emailed to changes@caltrain.com; sent to District Secretary, Caltrain, P.O. Box 3006, San Carlos, CA 94070; or telephoned to (800) 660-4287 (TDD for hearing impaired only 508-6448).
Caltrain should consider offering a family rate on weekends. I’ll bet a lot of families would love to take the train to SF (no dealing w/ parking, fun for kids), but with a family of 5 costing $75 (with a bit of a discount for kids), that’s a non-starter. The $75 then gets increased for buses or taxis once you get to SF
Similarly, for Giants games. If I go solo, it makes financial sense to take the train. But if I’m in a group of 3+, we’re better off driving…besides, we don’t have to duke it out for a spot on the express train after the game.
Caltrain could increase their ridership significantly by adding just one southbound train that leaves San Francisco later than midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. I, like many Peninsula residents, would like to be able to take Caltrain up to the City on Friday or Saturday evening – but this is often not possible because the midnight return train is just too early.
I agree with Jed. When you calculate fares for two or more, its obvious that car travel is cheaper.
I think it’s a mistake to kill the 8-ride tickets. For those of us who commute by train regularly, but not every single day, it makes the financial trade-off manageable. Why discourage riders?
I agree. The lack of viable group products is hurting Caltrain.