The Caltrain crossing on Broadway in Burlingame has been called the most dangerous railroad crossing in California. A project to make it safer might be delayed due to the state budget deficit — but Peninsula lawmakers say it’s a problem that can’t wait
“You have a traffic signal, a railroad track, and a traffic signal,” said Burlingame resident Jeff Lindstrom. “It’s all very tight together so you have to be pretty observant of what’s going on.”
In the past 10 years, there have been 22 reports of trains smashing into cars or people at that crossing.
There is a project set to fix the problem ready to go, according to Caltrain. A grade separation would allow trains to pass above while drivers cross safely below.
But the state funds to pay for it — along with two other projects on the Peninsula — are on the chopping block.
“That money was allocated in the state budget last year,” said Rep. Josh Becker. “It was actually awarded to Burlingame, to Mountain View, to Palo Alto, and then was withdrawn in this current budget year. And so we are looking to restore that right now.”
Becker is working with San Mateo County leaders to pressure Sacramento into paying what it had promised it would.
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“It’s really critical that we fund it now, because we’re leveraging federal funds,” Beckers said.
If that funding is restored, Caltrain called the project “shovel-ready” and will break ground as scheduled next year.
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If not, it would trigger the loss of federal dollars that had been secured and delay the project for years.
Ginger Conejero Saab has more in the video above video, and Becker discusses the project in detail in the video below.
