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September 20, 2004

The Honorable Don Gage, Board Chairperson
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
3331 North First Street
San Jose, CA 95134

Caltrain Parking at the Downtown Mountain View Transit Center

Dear Chairperson Gage:

With the success of the Caltrain Baby Bullet service, the Downtown Mountain View Transit Center has experienced a shortage of Caltrain parking. The City and JPB have been working together to quickly provide additional parking to support the continued success of Baby Bullet service. On September 14, 2004, the City Council authorized the use of City-owned property for temporary Caltrain parking, increasing parking supply by approximately 100 spaces. However, this is only a stopgap measure until a permanent long-term solution can be achieved.

The City Council has authorized City staff to work with Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB) and VTA staffs to develop long-term solutions such as the construction of a two-level parking deck on the existing Caltrain parking lot. This parking deck was planned at the time the existing transit center parking lot was constructed to accommodate future increases in commuter parking demand.

We understand the VTA Board of Directors will be allocating Measure A funding to Caltrain improvement projects in the coming months, and on behalf of the Mountain View City Council, I would like to express our interest in working cooperatively with the VTA to fund a long-term parking solution at the Downtown Mountain View Transit Center. We are also willing to work with VTA staff to secure other State or Federal funds if necessary.

We thank the Board for its consideration of this matter. Joan Jenkins, Transportation and Policy Manager, is our staff contact for this topic and can be reached at (650) 903-6311.                      
Sincerely,

Matt Pear
Mayor