The Potential Downside of Railroad Electrification—for Motorists

Electrification of the Caltrain will be great for train riders, the environment, air quality, and public health, but it might worsen traffic congestion between San Jose and San Francisco by increasing the frequency of commuter trains.

2 minute read

January 9, 2015, 1:00 PM PST

By Irvin Dawid


Motorists stuck behind closed train gates may not be happy to hear that wait times may increase as a result of Caltrain electrification. It's not due to the trains themselves—as electrified trains will travel faster than diesel-powered trains due to speedier acceleration and deceleration; rather, it's that Caltrain will be running more trains, which means more "down time" for those gates.

Consequently, "seven of the 82 intersections between San Francisco and San Jose would see 'significant and unavoidable' impacts, according to a final environmental impact report prepared for the project," writes Jason Green of the Bay Area News Group. 

The Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project is part of a $1.5 billion Caltrain Modernization Program that includes positive train control. "It will enable Caltrain to boost its ridership from roughly 60,000 today to more than 110,000 by 2040, according to the agency's projections," writes Green.

The only additional benefit to the program listed by Green is that it "is also expected to 176,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere." The remainder of the article is devoted to increased congestion at particular grade crossings in Palo Alto, Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Burlingame.

The increased congestion is listed in the newly released Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the project, a requirement of the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA.

One solution is to build grade separations, but "Caltrain said the price tag was too high," writes Green. "Constructing grade separations at each of the seven intersections would cost between $350 million and $700 million."

"While grade separations are a technically feasible way to reduce traffic impacts at the at-grade locations, it is a highly expensive mitigation strategy," the report said. "Thus, Caltrain cannot commit to a comprehensive program of grade separations at this time to address all significantly affected intersections and this impact is considered significant and unavoidable.

Hat tip to MTC-ABAG Library.

Thursday, January 8, 2015 in San Jose Mercury News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 21, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Red SF Muni ticketing machine.

San Francisco Muni Raises Fares a Second Time

A 10–cent fare hike for adults is part of the agency’s plan to chip away at a growing budget deficit.

May 21 - San Francisco Examiner

Electric car charging station with several Chevy Bolts charging in parking lot of store in Bellingham, Washington

Electric Grid Capacity Could Hamstring EV Growth

Industry leaders say the U.S. electric grid is unprepared for the increased demand for power created by electric cars, data centers, and electric homes.

May 21 - GovTech

Top view new development riverside residential and commercial neighborhood with vacant land in Texas, USA.

Texas Bill Supports Adaptive Reuse in Commercial Areas

Senate Bill 840, which was preliminarily approved by the state House, would allow residential construction in areas previously zoned for offices and commercial uses.

May 21 - The Texas Tribune