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. Now, the transit agency has launched a Climate Change Vulnerability Study.
Part of the study includes a rider survey available in English, Spanish and Chinese through May 17. There also is a Photo/Video submission tool. Community input is a critical component of the study and understanding the current impacts felt by riders will inform the areas of greatest urgency.
Wildfires threaten the electrical grid, severe winter storms have flooded tracks and stations, high winds have caused significant infrastructure damage due to falling trees, and sea level rise is a persistent threat to several stations and sections of the right-of-way.
Each one of these factors affects riders who live, work, and play along the Peninsula and the greater Bay Area. To ensure riders continue to enjoy frequent and uninterrupted service, Caltrain is studying all aspects of its operations to prepare for an uncertain future.
For Caltrain to best adapt to extreme weather conditions, it first must understand vulnerabilities. With this knowledge, Caltrain can adapt, build in resiliency measures, and minimize potential impacts to 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 riders with consistent service they can depend on.
Key study 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 and business operations
- Consider the diverse perspectives of key internal and external audiences
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