Hillsdale Station

undefined Hillsdale station is one of three Caltrain stations in San Mateo, California. The station is next to the Bay Meadows neighborhood and close to the Hillsdale Shopping Center.

Bay Meadows station
Until December 20, 2005, the former Bay Meadows Racetrack had the now-closed Bay Meadows stop, less than a half-mile (800 m) north of Hillsdale. There was no building, just an opening in the chain link fencing where riders could access the grandstand parking lot. When Hillsdale was renovated, the platform was extended a few hundred feet to the north, eliminating the need for the separate station. Hillsdale is now the closest station to the former racetrack area.

Relocation
The City of San Mateo applied for Measure A funds to help fund a grade separation project in 2013; the majority of the $180 million project is funded from Measure A ($74 M) and Proposition 1A ($84 million, California High Speed Rail). The proposed 25th Avenue Grade Separation Project will elevate tracks in southern San Mateo, eliminating the at-grade crossing at 25th Avenue and adding grade-separated crossings at 28th and 31st Avenues, which are currently interrupted by Peninsula Corridor tracks. Tracks will rise at the maximum allowable grade, starting from where they emerge south of the State Route 92 overcrossing, to minimize the depression of 25th Avenue to maintain vertical clearance for road vehicles under the new rail bridge. The grade separation is also designed to accommodate a potential mid-line overtake required for Caltrain/HSR blended operations, which would expand the Peninsula Corridor right-of-way to up to four tracks. PCJPB awarded an $82.9 million contract to the Shimmick/Disney Joint Venture in July 2017.

As part of the grade separation project, Hillsdale station will be relocated to 28th Avenue, closer to the transit-oriented development at Bay Meadows. Preliminary renderings show the new Hillsdale station will be an island platform generally extending south from 28th, with parking provided east of the tracks. A ceremonial groundbreaking for the project was held on September 26, 2017. Construction began in fall 2017 and is scheduled to complete in spring 2021. The station was temporarily closed on May 16, 2020 and was planned to reopen in fall 2020. The station ultimately reopened on April 26, 2021.

The existing parking lot at Hillsdale was closed in 2018, and a temporary lot, accessible from 28th, 31st, and Delaware, will serve Hillsdale. After construction of the new Hillsdale station is complete, the temporary lot will be upgraded and serve as the new permanent lot.