Caltrain to Hold Meetings on Burlingame Station Upgrades

Caltrain is planning to make significant upgrades to both of the Burlingame train stations and has scheduled two informational meetings so passengers, neighbors and other members of the public can learn about the project.

Both the Broadway and Burlingame stations will be reconfigured for ‘‘outside boarding’’ of trains, which means that riders will board trains from either side of the track instead of a center platform.

Separate informational meetings are scheduled:

Burlingame Caltrain Station: Thursday, July 29, 7:30 p.m., Burlingame Public Library, Lane Community Room, 480 Primrose Road (Bellevue Avenue entrance)

Broadway Caltrain Station: Tuesday, August 3, 7:30 p.m., Burlingame Center, 850 Burlingame Ave., Lounge 2

As part of the $6.9 million project, the center platform at the two stations will be eliminated, and a center-track fence will be installed. This is the same configuration which has gone in at other Caltrain stations in recent years including Hayward Park, Redwood City and Menlo Park.

Currently, when trains coming from opposite directions approach the Burlingame stations, one train holds back until the other has left the station, because of concern that pedestrians might walk in front of the other train.

The combination of a center-track fence and relocated pedestrian crossings with warning gates will allow trains to proceed into or through the station on either track, improving Caltrain operations.

Not only will stations be safer, but crossing gate ‘‘down time’’ for vehicles will be reduced about 50 percent at Broadway Avenue and about 32 percent at the crossings near the Burlingame station.

As part of the project, new platforms and amenities including public address systems and visual message systems will be installed. New passenger shelters will be provided at both stations.

At the Broadway station, the location of the northbound boarding platform will be moved just north of Broadway Avenue, and at the Burlingame station, South Lane will be closed, with new platforms extending from North Lane to Howard Avenue.

Parking south of the Burlingame station along East and West lanes will be reconfigured for Caltrain spaces; those on West Lane will be shared with the city.

A pedestrian crossing at Morrell Avenue, located near Burlingame High School, will be upgraded with pedestrian gates and signals and an accessible path.

There will be no change in the Caltrain service level as a result of the two station projects.

7/21/04