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Caltrans rail report: ridership steady, revenues up and on‑time performance improves
Summary
Caltrans reported largely stable ridership across corridors for the third quarter, with revenues rising and statewide on‑time performance improving; officials highlighted the Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquin corridors as strong performers and noted localized delays from Central Valley tie replacement work.
Caltrans reported on third‑quarter rail performance, saying ridership was essentially flat statewide compared with the same quarter last year while revenues improved and on‑time performance rose. The department presented the quarterly operating report and answered commissioners’ questions about capacity and long‑distance service.
The report, delivered by Bill Bronte of Caltrans’ Division of Rail, covered the three primary intercity corridors. Statewide ridership was nearly unchanged (about 400 more passengers than the same quarter the prior year), while revenues climbed 4.4% and expenses rose 2.9%. Caltrans’ statewide fare‑box recovery ratio reached about 54.6% and on‑time performance was 88.5% overall.
Bronte emphasized strong results on the Pacific Surfliner, the state’s second‑busiest corridor, where ridership and punctuality improved despite one fewer round trip. He said capital improvements and coordination with Metrolink and North County Transit reduced slow orders and boosted reliability. On the San Joaquin corridor, he reported record ridership over multiple quarters and revenue growth, while noting a March dip in on‑time performance to about 63% caused by a tie replacement project through the Central Valley. That track work depressed punctuality and slightly restrained ridership growth for the quarter, he said.
On the Capitol Corridor, Caltrans said ridership showed some midweek declines and that changes in e‑ticketing have improved passenger accounting; some of the apparent decrease in riders reflected more accurate ticket counts rather than a sudden drop in demand. Bronte said revenues on most corridors climbed, with some corridors posting their highest performances in years.
Commissioners asked about long‑distance connections and whether California’s network was sustaining cross‑country service. Commissioner Burke praised the state’s performance compared with the Eastern Corridor and asked that the commission continue to support long‑distance connections.
Caltrans closed by noting the quarterly snapshot showed a few operational items to watch (notably Central Valley construction impacts) but otherwise solid performance driven by capital investments and schedule coordination.
The item was presented as an informational report; no commission action was required under this agenda entry.
