Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) resource for Caltrain's Rail Corridor Use Policy (RCUP). This resource is designed to provide answers to common questions regarding the policy, its objectives, the application process for “non-railroad” uses of JPB property, and the overall decision-making framework. Whether you're a potential applicant, community member, or stakeholder, this FAQ will help you understand how the RCUP supports Caltrain's Long-Term Service Vision while allowing the use of JPB property for various purposes such as utilities, commercial businesses, development proposals, and community facilities.
This FAQ covers various elements of the Rail Corridor Use Policy (RCUP) and related application process, including policy objectives, compatibility criteria, and procedural steps.
Caltrain Policy & RCUP
What is RCUP?
The Rail Corridor Use Policy (RCUP) was adopted by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB) to govern the use of JPB-owned property and support delivery of Caltrain’s Long Range Service Vision. The service vision provides the roadmap for improving the customer experience and growing service to meet the region’s evolving needs. Key elements of the service vision include electrifying Caltrain, increasing train frequency and capacity, and investing in additional passing tracks and infrastructure to support expanded service and regional connectivity. Caltrain's needs are varied and complex, requiring careful consideration of the implications of relinquishing use of its limited right-of-way.
RCUP is the initial step in developing Property Access Agreements, used to assess whether a proposed land use is fundamentally compatible with the railroad's current and future property needs, as defined by the service vision and other adopted plans and policies. Once a proposed use has passed RCUP compatibility review, in accordance with the Policy of Property Conveyance, additional design, engineering, and regulatory review is required before a Property Access Agreement can be approved and issued by the JPB. This additional review may daylight conflicts to be resolved via Conditions of Approval (COA).
Where does RCUP ‘sit’ within Caltrain’s Property Access Agreement process?
Parties interested in using JPB property must be issued a Property Access Agreement from Caltrain in order to receive rights to utilize the railroad’s property. Uses that are shorter than 6 months in duration, or that will result in the issuing of a right-of-entry permit, initially undergo engineering review. Uses that would last 6 months or longer, initially undergo RCUP review. At the end of the RCUP review process, if a proposed project is determined to be compatible with the railroad’s current and future needs for its property, additional engineering, operational, and regulatory review is required to complete the Property Access Agreement approval process. For approved uses, Real Estate and Property Development issue the appropriate Property Access Agreement to the interested party.
The RCUP policy includes a Service Vision Capital Project Overlay (SVCPO) – an overlay district applied on top of the Property Use Zones to JPB property along the rail corridor. This overlay conceptually represents areas of JPB property that may be needed for future capital projects to support achievement of Caltrain’s Long Range Service Vision.
Consistent with the Caltrain Business Plan, the program of capital investments included in the SVCPO is intended to be “visionary;” it is comprehensive and inclusive of all the projects and plans already ongoing in the corridor. This means many of the capital investments are related to projects and plans already under development by Caltrain’s partner agencies and local jurisdictions.
The SVCPO’s collection of potential future capital projects includes the following:
Near-term future maintenance and rehabilitation projects of existing rail infrastructure
Potential future changes to the rail infrastructure to accommodate a blended system (e.g., simultaneous Caltrain and California High Speed Rail service)
Potential future passing, and Maintenance of Way tracks to support increased rail service, as described by the Caltrain Business Plan
Potential future terminal projects at San Francisco and San Jose
Potential future grade separation projects at each current at-grade vehicular crossing
Potential future grade separation projects for bikes and pedestrians only, as defined by cities along the corridor
Who reviews RCUP applications?
The RCUP staff lead oversees the compatibility review. Input on preliminary RCUP compatibility review is provided by staff from Caltrain Planning, Third-Party Engineering, and Caltrain Real Estate. After the compatibility review is complete, projects proceed to a more detailed evaluation, focusing on Caltrain's capital planning, operations, maintenance, and real estate needs.
What is the role of the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB) in this process?
As previously noted, the RCUP governs the use of JPB-owned property along the rail corridor. The JPB manages and operates Caltrain service along the San Francisco Peninsula and is responsible for issuing the final RCUP determination. This includes decisions for both the RCUP compatibility review and, when applicable, the RCUP Use Variance application.
RCUP Application Process
What are the steps to apply for property use under the RCUP?
Visit the RCUP website: www.caltrain.com/projects/rail-corridor-use-policy-rcup. Review the RCUP policy, application form, and supporting materials (e.g., sample applications). Complete the RCUP application with all required documentation.
What information and documents are required to complete the application?
An RCUP application includes the following:
A completed application form (available on the RCUP website HERE)
An annotated RCUP map (maps available within the RCUP policy)
Supporting documentation including Project site plan, renderings, description, etc
What criteria are used to evaluate the compatibility of proposed uses with Caltrain's needs?
An RCUP compatibility review is conducted based on evaluation of proposed Project compatibility with the land uses allowed in the proposed location according to RCUP policy.
Elements of the Caltrain Station Management Toolbox. This toolbox evaluates the tradeoffs of Project attributes on station access and guides recommendations for improvements.
An RCUP application requires no fee; review is conducted at Caltrain’s expense. A Use Variance application, however, does require a fee ($2,500 minimum, confirmed via update to the Property Conveyance Policy’s fee schedule).
How will I be notified about the status of my application?
The RCUP staff lead will contact the Project applicant via written communication to share the findings of the RCUP compatibility review.
Who can I contact for assistance with the application process?
What should I do if, based on preliminary review, my proposed use is determined to be INCOMPATIBLE with the railroad's current and future needs?
Typically, three actions are available. One, the Project applicant may withdraw the Project from consideration. Two, if findings indicate only a minor adjustment is required to make the project compatible, then the Project applicant may revise the Project and submit updated materials for consideration. Three, if more substantial adjustments are required to make the project compatible, then the Project applicant may submit a Use Variance application. The Use Variance determination may be approval, denial, or approval with conditions. If granted, the Use Variance would grant JPB property to be used in a manner not typically allowed per Caltrain policy
What steps should I take to submit a Use Variance application?
The RCUP staff lead will give you a Use Variance application form. Please complete the form, making sure to update the project elements if necessary per the findings from the preliminary RCUP compatibility review. Submit the form and all project materials – description, site plan, supporting documentation – to the RCUP staff lead.
Note: As mentioned above, a Use Variance application requires submittal of a fee ($2,500 minimum, confirmed via the Property Conveyance Policy’s fee schedule).
What should I do if, based on review of my Use Variance application, the final determination is that my proposed use is INCOMPATIBLE with the railroad's current and future needs?
In this instance, no further appeals are available and the project application is rejected.
RCUP Application Resources
Are there any examples of successful applications available for reference?
The following materials are available via links on the RCUP website:
Provide links to two applications – utilities, retail land use
Are there examples of the application maps?
See the sample RCUP application forms for examples of annotated maps and project site plans. Typically, it is best to provide both. The annotated map
Does Caltrain provide virtual or in-person application guidance?
Staff typically address application-related inquiries through written communication rather than in-person or video meetings. For any questions, feel free to reach out to CaltrainRCUP@caltrain.com. If questions arrive from staff during the course of application review, these will be conveyed to the main applicant contact and may benefit from a follow-up call or meeting, on a case-by-case basis.
Who should I contact if I have questions not answered via this FAQ?
For any questions, feel free to reach out to CaltrainRCUP@caltrain.com. If you have already applied, please include the name of your project in the email subject
I am Caltrain staff looking for resources to support RCUP review.
Please reach out to the present head of Caltrain planning or send an email to CaltrainRCUP@caltrain.com, including “STAFF INQUIRY” in the email subject.
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