Max Mautner
Overview / Agency

Caltrain

6 recommendations from the SB 63 financial efficiency review are tracked for Caltrain. Most recent check: November 4, 2026.

  • Adopted 6

Kind of commitment: Direct action 3  Study or plan 3   · 3 of 6 aimed at revenue · how this is classified

MTC's estimated completion date for Caltrain's adopted strategies: June 2029 (MTC Res. 4743).

Board actions

  • June 4, 2026 Board adopted Resolution No. 2026-28, Adopt Senate Bill 63 Phase 1 Financial Efficiency Review Early Action Strategies (motion Heminger/Cohen; 8 ayes, 0 noes, 1 absent).

Recommendations

  1. Increase parking revenue through measures such as expanded days or hours of paid parking, rate changes, more enforcement, and leasing or permitting parking at under-used lots. Adopted as: “Evaluate opportunities to increase parking revenue…” Adopted Study or plan Phase 1 revenue Last verified November 4, 2026
    Status
    Adopted as of November 4, 2026
    Adopted wording
    Enhance parking revenue. Evaluate opportunities to increase parking revenue through measures like rate adjustments, expanded enforcement, and leasing or permitting parking at under-utilized facilities.
    Kind
    Study or plan (from the board's adopted wording: “Evaluate opportunities to increase parking revenue”; how this is classified)
    Board action
    June 4, 2026: Board adopted Resolution No. 2026-28, Adopt Senate Bill 63 Phase 1 Financial Efficiency Review Early Action Strategies (motion Heminger/Cohen; 8 ayes, 0 noes, 1 absent).
    Required by
    Each agency identifies the Phase 1 strategies it commits to and adopts them as policy or budget actions: July 1, 2026 (Gov. Code §67766(b))
    Target completion
    June 2029 (Estimated completion date in MTC Res. 4743, Attachment A.)
    Estimated savings
    Not estimated (The Phase 1 report does not estimate savings for this strategy.)
    Sources
    Entry ID
    caltrain-p1-parking-revenue · link to this entry
  2. Earn more revenue from fiber-optic and other communications assets, mainly through additional leasing. Adopted as: “Advance monetization of Caltrain's fiber optic and communications assets…” Adopted Direct action Phase 1 revenue Last verified November 4, 2026
    Status
    Adopted as of November 4, 2026
    Adopted wording
    Lease fiber and communications assets. Advance monetization of Caltrain's fiber optic and communications assets, including developing a leasing strategy and recommending procurement approach to the Board.
    Kind
    Direct action (from the board's adopted wording: “Advance monetization of Caltrain's fiber optic and communications assets”; how this is classified)
    Board action
    June 4, 2026: Board adopted Resolution No. 2026-28, Adopt Senate Bill 63 Phase 1 Financial Efficiency Review Early Action Strategies (motion Heminger/Cohen; 8 ayes, 0 noes, 1 absent).
    Required by
    Each agency identifies the Phase 1 strategies it commits to and adopts them as policy or budget actions: July 1, 2026 (Gov. Code §67766(b))
    Target completion
    June 2029 (Estimated completion date in MTC Res. 4743, Attachment A.)
    Estimated savings
    Not estimated (The Phase 1 report does not estimate savings for this strategy.)
    Sources
    Entry ID
    caltrain-p1-fiber-leasing · link to this entry
  3. Study the benefits, challenges, and opportunities of expanding retail and amenity partnerships at stations. Adopted as: “Conduct a study to assess benefits, challenges, and opportunities…” Adopted Study or plan Phase 1 revenue Last verified November 4, 2026
    Status
    Adopted as of November 4, 2026
    Adopted wording
    Identify opportunities for retail and/or amenities at Caltrain stations. Conduct a study to assess benefits, challenges, and opportunities to expanding retail and/or amenity partnerships, including estimated cost and revenue impacts and recommended priority.
    Kind
    Study or plan (from the board's adopted wording: “Conduct a study to assess benefits, challenges, and opportunities”; how this is classified)
    Board action
    June 4, 2026: Board adopted Resolution No. 2026-28, Adopt Senate Bill 63 Phase 1 Financial Efficiency Review Early Action Strategies (motion Heminger/Cohen; 8 ayes, 0 noes, 1 absent).
    Required by
    Each agency identifies the Phase 1 strategies it commits to and adopts them as policy or budget actions: July 1, 2026 (Gov. Code §67766(b))
    Target completion
    June 2029 (Estimated completion date in MTC Res. 4743, Attachment A.)
    Estimated savings
    Not estimated (The Phase 1 report does not estimate savings for this strategy.)
    Notes
    The Oversight Committee added this strategy by motion on May 22, 2026 (report p. 60, footnote 20).
    Sources
    Entry ID
    caltrain-p1-retail-amenity-study · link to this entry
  4. Study where administration of the train operations contract, work practices, or other processes could be made more efficient without affecting safety, reliability, or compliance. Adopted as: “Incorporate cost efficiencies and improvements to the Operations and Maintenance contract…” Adopted Direct action Phase 1 procurement Last verified November 4, 2026
    Status
    Adopted as of November 4, 2026
    Adopted wording
    Examine contracts for opportunities to reduce costs. Incorporate cost efficiencies and improvements to the Operations and Maintenance contract, contract administration, work practices, or other processes without compromising safety, reliability, or compliance.
    Kind
    Direct action (from the board's adopted wording: “Incorporate cost efficiencies and improvements to the Operations and Maintenance contract”; how this is classified)
    Board action
    June 4, 2026: Board adopted Resolution No. 2026-28, Adopt Senate Bill 63 Phase 1 Financial Efficiency Review Early Action Strategies (motion Heminger/Cohen; 8 ayes, 0 noes, 1 absent).
    Required by
    Each agency identifies the Phase 1 strategies it commits to and adopts them as policy or budget actions: July 1, 2026 (Gov. Code §67766(b))
    Target completion
    June 2029 (Estimated completion date in MTC Res. 4743, Attachment A.)
    Estimated savings
    Not estimated (The Phase 1 report does not estimate savings for this strategy.)
    Notes
    The report gives the operator contract's annual value as $100-150 million (p. 60); that is the contract's value, not a savings estimate.
    Sources
    Entry ID
    caltrain-p1-operator-contract-study · link to this entry
  5. Study the feasibility of storing electricity that trains return to the grid, including the value of the energy, how it could be collected, and costs and benefits. Adopted as: “Conduct a study about the feasibility of energy storage…” Adopted Study or plan Phase 1 energy Last verified November 4, 2026
    Status
    Adopted as of November 4, 2026
    Adopted wording
    Explore feasibility of energy storage project. Conduct a study about the feasibility of energy storage to further utilize the electricity being returned to the grid from regenerative braking and generate cost efficiencies. Provide the report findings to the Board upon completion.
    Kind
    Study or plan (from the board's adopted wording: “Conduct a study about the feasibility of energy storage”; how this is classified)
    Board action
    June 4, 2026: Board adopted Resolution No. 2026-28, Adopt Senate Bill 63 Phase 1 Financial Efficiency Review Early Action Strategies (motion Heminger/Cohen; 8 ayes, 0 noes, 1 absent).
    Required by
    Each agency identifies the Phase 1 strategies it commits to and adopts them as policy or budget actions: July 1, 2026 (Gov. Code §67766(b))
    Target completion
    June 2029 (Estimated completion date in MTC Res. 4743, Attachment A.)
    Estimated savings
    Not estimated (The Phase 1 report does not estimate savings for this strategy.)
    Sources
    Entry ID
    caltrain-p1-energy-storage-study · link to this entry
  6. In consultation with MTC, identify the internal resources and supporting policies needed to expand Clipper BayPass or GoPass to more institutions and employers. Adopted as: “Implement strategies to further expand GoPass and/or Clipper BayPass enrollment…” Adopted Direct action Phase 1 ridership/customer experience Last verified November 4, 2026
    Status
    Adopted as of November 4, 2026
    Adopted wording
    Expand GoPass and/or Clipper BayPass to more institutions and employers. Implement strategies to further expand GoPass and/or Clipper BayPass enrollment to more institutions and employers that will support ridership and revenue for Caltrain.
    Kind
    Direct action (from the board's adopted wording: “Implement strategies to further expand GoPass and/or Clipper BayPass enrollment”; how this is classified)
    Board action
    June 4, 2026: Board adopted Resolution No. 2026-28, Adopt Senate Bill 63 Phase 1 Financial Efficiency Review Early Action Strategies (motion Heminger/Cohen; 8 ayes, 0 noes, 1 absent).
    Required by
    Each agency identifies the Phase 1 strategies it commits to and adopts them as policy or budget actions: July 1, 2026 (Gov. Code §67766(b))
    Target completion
    June 2029 (Estimated completion date in MTC Res. 4743, Attachment A.)
    Estimated savings
    Not estimated (The Phase 1 report does not estimate savings for this strategy.)
    Sources
    Entry ID
    caltrain-p1-gopass-baypass-expansion · link to this entry

Click or tap a recommendation to see its board action, sources, and notes.