Caltrain Resiliency


Big Picture

The Bay Area and the Caltrain corridor are already feeling the impacts of climate change, and the effects will only increase as temperatures continue to rise. Summer heat waves have increased in frequency and duration. Wildfires are a constant threat growing in intensity and number, reducing regional air quality and threatening the electrical grid. Severe winter storms have flooded tracks and stations. Related high winds have caused significant infrastructure damage due to falling trees. Furthermore, sea level rise is a persistent threat to several stations and sections of the right-of-way.

Each one of these factors affects our riders who live, work, and play along the Peninsula and the greater Bay Area. To ensure our riders continue to enjoy frequent and uninterrupted service, Caltrain is studying all aspects of its operations to prepare for an uncertain future. 


The Caltrain Climate Change Vulnerability Study

For Caltrain to best adapt to extreme weather conditions, first we must understand our vulnerabilities. With this knowledge, Caltrain can adapt, build in resiliency measures, and minimize potential impacts to our passengers. The Caltrain Climate Change Vulnerability Study will provide answers to some of these questions. Combining both rider and community feedback with projected hazard scenarios will inform planning efforts and ensure future disruptions are minimized or eliminated, providing our riders with consistent service they can depend on. 

Key Objectives

  • Identify the hazards and asset types of most concern  
  • Generate actionable data and information to inform adaptation planning
  • Equip Caltrain with the data it needs to integrate adaptation strategies that improve the system’s long-term resilience into the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and business operations
  • Consider the diverse perspectives of key internal and external audiences 

Study Milestones
 

Milestones

Timeline

Defining Study Objectives

Fall 2024

Coordinate Stakeholders & Information Synthesis

Fall 2024 - Fall 2025

Community Engagement

Winter - Fall 2025

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

Fall 2024 - Spring 2025

Impacts & Disruptions Risk Synthesis

Winter - Fall 2025

Draft & Final Study Report

Summer - Fall 2025

*Projects timeline may be subject to change

Public Involvement

Community input is a critical component of the study. Understanding the current impacts felt by our riders will inform the areas of greatest urgency. By engaging with the diverse and varied communities who ride and live along the corridor, Caltrain can better understand local needs and challenges and incorporate them into solutions.

The project seeks to gather this information through a number of opportunities:

Rider Engagement

Community Engagement

  • Frontline Community Leadership Meetings
    • Meeting #1 – February 2025
    • Meeting #2 – May 2025
  • Roadshow Presentations (to be announced)
  • Public Community Meeting
  • Project Summary Open House 

Additional Resources

Stay Connected

Please check back regularly since we will be updating this website with meeting details and other information as the study progresses. If you have any questions or want to learn more, please feel free to contact us at caltrainclimate@TheCivicEdge.com