An aerial view of the Broadway at-grade Caltrain crossing in Burlingame
Local leadership and a three-agency partnership advance the state’s highest-priority grade separation project
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded $90.4 million for construction of the Broadway Grade Separation Project in Burlingame through its Railroad Crossing Elimination Program.
Caltrain applied for the capital grant in partnership with the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA) and the city of Burlingame. The partners thank FRA Administrator David Fink, the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, and U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin for their strong and longstanding support of the project.
The California Public Utilities Commission ranks the Broadway crossing as the top-priority grade separation in California. More than 30,000 vehicles travel through the crossing each day. By separating the rail line from the street, the project will improve safety, reduce congestion and lower emissions.
San Mateo County's local investment helped secure this federal award. SMCTA has committed over $380 million in voter-approved Measure A and Measure W funds, the single largest source of project funding. Together, funding from SMCTA, the state and the city, accounts for approximately 80% of the project cost, a significantly larger share than is typical for major infrastructure projects.
The award reflects a coordinated, multi-year partnership to advance project design, secure local and state funding, complete environmental review, and seek federal investment.
“Caltrain, the City of Burlingame, and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority have been working tirelessly to make important safety upgrades at Broadway, which has been deemed the most dangerous rail crossing in all of California,” said Congressman Kevin Mullin (CA-15). “I have been partnering with Caltrain, the SMCTA and the City to bring home more federal support for the Broadway Burlingame Grade Separation project, and am thrilled it has rightfully earned an additional $90 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration. In addition to the $3 million in federal Community Project Funding I brought home earlier this year, this FRA grant will go a long way to helping improve safety in our community.”
“This federal investment marks a major milestone for the Broadway Grade Separation Project and reflects the sustained partnership among SMCTA, Caltrain, the City of Burlingame and our state and federal leaders,” said Julia Mates, chair of the San Mateo County Transportation Authority Board of Directors. “SMCTA’s local investment helped position this critical project for delivery, improving safety and regional mobility.”
This FRA grant secures a critical piece of the grade separation project’s funding and keeps the project on track for construction. The partners will continue to pursue funding for additional pedestrian and bicycle circulation improvements and coordinate those improvements with project delivery. Construction is expected to be complete in January 2032.
“This federal award brings one of California’s most critical grade separation projects closer to construction. The Broadway project will improve safety, reduce congestion and deliver lasting benefits for Burlingame and the region,” said Rico E. Medina, Caltrain Board Chair. “It reflects the power of local, state and federal partners working together to deliver for our communities.”
“The City of Burlingame thanks its federal partners for joining our State, County and City financing team to finally make Broadway grade separation a reality,” said Burlingame Mayor Michael Brownrigg. “Hard work, sharp pencils, and leaders who focus on the long term are what helped get this critical project over the goal line, and our residents and our region will be the better and safer for it.
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About the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (SMCTA): Created to administer Measure A, San Mateo County’s ½ cent sales tax, the TA provides funding for transportation projects and programs in San Mateo County. In 2004, more than 75% of San Mateo County voters reauthorize Measure A for an additional 25 years. In 2018, voters approved Measure W, the San Mateo County Congestion Relief Plan an additional ½ cent sales tax. The TA will administer half the revenue of Measure W and the San Mateo County Transit District will administer the other half to fund and implement the Congestion Relief Plan.
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