Cost estimates for a project that would extend Caltrain service from the San Francisco station to the Salesforce Transit Center is less than originally anticipated, though uncertainty around key federal funds continues.
The initiative would construct a 1.5-mile underground tunnel with new tracks and station upgrades that could also support high-speed rail in the future. The cost estimates in 2023 were about $8.25 billion, which is now down to $7.6 billion, largely by eliminating some elements or dedicating them for high-speed rail use only.
The estimate follows the opposite trend of some of its other capital projects.
The long-standing grade separation project near Burlingame’s Broadway station — often considered the most dangerous rail crossing in the state — saw updated project estimates more than double from 2022, going from $316 million to $889 million as of 2025, though a pared-down version of the project brought down the price tag to about $615 million. And the Guadalupe River Bridge repair project also saw costs escalate by $107 million.
But with a significant funding gap, and because much of it relies on federal funding, Board Member Jeff Gee, also a Redwood City councilmember, said during a Caltrain meeting Sept. 4, it was important to secure all finances before starting construction.
“We had some painful lessons learned about running out of money during construction,” Gee said. “This project is shovel ready but because all of the funding is not secured, and the money we've been granted isn’t solid, we are metering out the pace of this project to match the funding that we know we have.”
Even when agencies secure federal funding, it’s hard to know whether that money will actually get to them.
“There is no guarantee right in this federal climate about any guarantees that federal funding will continue unless it’s signed, and even if it’s signed, it's not even a guarantee either, so it’s an ongoing concern,” he said. “Every grant is being scrutinized and reviewed.”
Caltrain expects to start service on the new line by 2035.
(2) comments
"Board Member Jeff Gee, also a Redwood City councilmember, said during a Caltrain meeting Sept. 4, it was important to secure all finances before starting construction."
This is a dead giveaway that this project is similar to the Dumbarton Railroad. They really never wanted to do it, but they kept putting money in "studies" and "consultants" and "outreach", where it can easily get used, and certainly wouldn't create value.
Any project our politicians really want to get done, they start and just hope somewhere along the way money will magically appear. Just look at HSR or Delta tunnel or all Caltrans highway projects - money just magically appears out of nowhere whenever they need it.
We cannot forget that Jeff Gee, David Canepa and Rico E. Medina aren't really "Public Transit People" - green is not their true color.
They work more so for the fossil fuel side. That's why Jeff Gee has no problems starting the Woodside Interchange project or grade separation in Redwood City without the necessary funding. Funding will just magically appear later.
Does the calculation consider an impairment of Bart/Caltrain Milbrae Station? With direct service to Downtown SF there will not be as much need for transfers to BART unless one needs to get to the East Bay.
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