BURLINGAME, Calif. (KRON) — Along the Peninsula, elected officials in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties are pushing the state to help pay for safety improvements at Caltrain crossings. A $744 million plan is in the works to improve dangerous rail crossings in Burlingame, Palo Alto and Mountain View.
The projects are reliant in part on state funding. However, as of right now, the legislature has taken that money away.
In Burlingame, the Caltrain crossing at Broadway and California Drive is one of the most dangerous rail crossings in the state. Over the years, dozens of vehicles and pedestrians have been hit here, with multiple fatalities.
The state legislature had allocated $113 million in funding to help pay for improvements at the Burlingame Caltrain crossing, along with rail crossings in Palo Alto and Mountain View. That funding was recently pulled from next year’s proposed budget.
“This is a massive problem. We have a chance to fix it. Let’s not miss that window,” said State Sen. Josh Becker, who represents the area. Sen. Becker is leading the charge to try to get the funding reinstated.
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