2. The bigger issue is that Caltrain, like all the other transit operators, doesn’t understand what business it is in. Caltrain thinks it’s in the train business. They should know that they are in the urban mass transit business. They confuse means with ends. They think that operating and upgrading their trains is what they are all about. They should understand that they are in the business of customer service. Bikes and cars account for the “first and last mile.” Enable those and they will carry more customers. Furthermore, they should understand that they are only a component of a larger multi-modal networked system. A bike and car(parking) master plan would be only a part, albeit a critical part, of such a system.

3. Caltrain, like the other transit operators, is in a no-win financial game. Neither the operating subsidies nor ticket sales are enough for them to break even. Either charge a lot more for tickets (which they now need due to higher Diesel costs), or significantly increase tax based subsidies, or both. With increased ticket costs, they may lose customers. Tax payers are unwilling to provide sufficient subsidies for train (or bus systems, etc.) operations.

We want more and better urban mass transit, but are unwilling to pay for it.
As the saying goes: You get what you pay for.