Caltrain’s Board of Directors approved changes Dec. 3, to the rail agency’s fare rates and parking fees.
The approved changes included an increase to the Caltrain adult base fare by 50 cents. As a result, that will increase the amount paid for the Day Pass, 8-Ride Tickets and Monthly Passes. Eligible discount fares will remain at 50 percent of adult ticket prices, and Clipper card holders will continue to get an approximate 15 percent discount. More information on the new fare chart can be found here.
Along with the fare change proposal, Caltrain will increase daily parking fees at station lots from $5 to $5.50, and raise the monthly parking permit fee from $50 to $55.
The changes to the transit fares will go into effect on February 28, 2016. The new parking rates changes will be enforced on July 1.
Caltrain last adjusted fares on October 5, 2014, when one-way cash fares were increased by 25 cents and day pass cash fares were raised by 50 cents. Clipper cards users were not affected by those adjustments. The increase in paper tickets was intended to provide an incentive for customers to transition to Clipper.
Unlike many transit agencies, Caltrain does not have a dedicated source of funding. The approved fare changes are necessary to meet the rising costs of rail operations and maintenance.
Prior to voting on the fare changes, Caltrain held four different community meetings in October to gather feedback on the proposals. The rail agency also hosted a public hearing at its Board of Directors meeting in November and collected comments through mail, email and phone calls.
