Caltrain Riders Angry Over Proposed Station Closings
SAN JOSE (KCBS )- Caltrain officials got an earful from angry riders at the first of a series of meetings Monday night on proposed service cuts.
Attendees left one message clear: passengers are strongly opposed to closing stations.
A deficit of more than $30 million may force Caltrain to close as many as 13 stations which would include every stop south of San Jose Diridon Station.
KCBS' Chris Filippi Reports:
"There simply are not good choices, just tough ones and tougher ones," said Caltrain spokesman Mark Simon.
Many of those at the meeting at San Jose City Hall said closing stations may force them to ditch Caltrain.
"If you close Tamien, there's nowhere to go, but back to the cars," said one concerned rider.
Another rider proposed to increase the fare more than 25 cents. "I'd be willing to pay more to keep my stop," she said.
"With the proposed elimination of the Lawrence Station and the Santa Clara Station including College Park, that's about eight miles with no station," pointed out another rider.
Caltrain officials are also considering reducing the number of trains from 86 to 48 and only offering service for weekday commute hours. More public hearings are planned and any service changes will take effect in July.
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