Caltrain seeing a ridership increase
Written by David C. Lester, Editor-in-Chief
Grade-separated East 25th Avenue reopens.
Caltrain
As of June 30, the number of new COVID cases in the state of California over the previous 14 days was +48.3%, or 69,357 cases. However, Caltrain reported on Monday that their estimates are that its ridership is up to 3,200 passengers per day from a low point of 1,500 riders per day. The transit agency attributes this to the relaxation of shelter-in-place orders in the state.
Caltrain also reports that it is operating 70 trains per weekday, after having reduced train frequency to 42 per day when the shelter-in-place orders were first announced. The agency adds that it keeps tabs on ridership to ensure that enough trains are running to enable passengers to keep a healthy distance from one another.
Cleaning and personal protection standards are strong. For example, all trains are sanitized and cleaned every day with disinfectant products recommended by the CDC. Also, all “station touchpoints” are being disinfected several times every day, and spray foggers are used to disinfect the trains every midday and every night while at the San Francisco station. All passengers and Caltrain staff are required to wear face-covering while in a station or on board the trains.
The transit systems in Caltrain’s service area are working together on a transit plan that focuses on public health, and will include requirements and recommendations for employee and passenger safety based on international, national and local best practices.
Caltrain also reports no employees who work in maintenance or on board the trains have been infected with the virus. The agency also notes that their pre-pandimic ridership was 65,000 passengers per weekday.
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