Train Safety a Priority for California Residents

Those in the Bay Area, specifically Burlingame, are taking steps to ensure that another fatal train track accident is not in the town's future. Community members came together in the wake of the death of a local 13-year old boy.

"It's up to the community to decide what can we do to avoid this tragedy again," said Gene Condon, the Traffic, Safety and Parking Commission chair Thursday. "This is the first step for that to happen. Trains are faster and quieter now."

Residents and Caltrain officials met to discuss the ongoing problem of people illegally crossing the tracks near the Broadway train station. The meeting also saw anger directed at the rail system.

"Caltrain's actions in the last few years have decreased the safety in the neighborhood surrounding the tracks," said Burlingame Elementary School District trustee president Marc Friedman. "We have read and heard about many options that Caltrain was considering that would improve safety. But even when budgets are tight, spending money on saving lives should be Caltrain's top priority."

In the past, it hasn't appeared to be.

Faith Kuc was a Burlingame Intermediate School student who was killed by a southbound train while heading home to nearby Northpark Apartments on April 18. The boy was dropped off by a SamTrans bus at Sanchez Avenue and California Drive. In response to the tragedy, Caltrain's chief operating officer Chuck Harvey said he eliminated the bus stop at Sanchez Avenue and directed SamTrans bus No. 49 - which picks up BIS students at the school - to stop at a different location.

Harvey said he won't commit to putting up a fence near the station until he hears from other cities along the railroad corridor about their needs for strategic fencing in areas notorious for trespassing. He also said he can't promise to fence Burlingame first after Caltrain evaluates the requests.

"A fence won't stop people from (trespassing)," Harvey said. "They climb fences, too."

Caltrain is trying to educate the community and students with the program, "Operation Life Saver." Meanwhile, Burlingame Police Chief Jack Van Etten promised there would be tougher enforcement and more of a police presence at the Broadway and Burlingame Avenue stations.

Kuc was the seventh fatality on Caltrain tracks this year. The issue of train safety is one that needs to be addressed nationwide.