Caltrain parking @ Hillsdale (San Jose, San Mateo, Stanford: maintenance, living in, mall)

[taskmgr]

Hey folks,

I'm living in San Mateo temporarily (might become permanent). I'd like to take Caltrain to work in SJ.

I sorta kinda live 4 miles west of the Hillsdale station. I was thinking of driving over and taking Caltrain. It looks like I have to pay $4 a day in parking? Ouch.

Questions:
1. Is that lot safe? Although my car is 9 years old, it looks brand new and it's fancy dancy German. I've also lived in places where people had commuter cars and left the doors unlocked. Is this that kind of lot?

2. Will I get busted if I park at the Hillsdale mall lot for free and walk over?

3. Is there free street parking nearby?

Thanks!

[jaypee]

1. Yes, it's always brightly lit and lots of people walking about due to the mall.
2. I never tried but in these days of cutbacks, they probably don't have anyone enforcing it. Do you feel lucky?
3. In the back of Hillsdale mall (away from Hillsdale Garden Apts) there should be street parking. You still have to walk a bit to get to the train station. Worth a shot.

[sonarrat]

4 miles west of the station and you're almost to Crystal Springs Reservoir, why not just take I-280? It's a breeze going to San Jose.

[taskmgr]

It's 4 miles directly West... it's kind of twisty. So I don't quite live in the reservoir.

Also, it's a 35 mile drive each way. That's 70 miles r/t. Gas alone is about $10 per day. And then there's maintenance, etc - so let's say $15 per day (probably closer to $25.)

If I can get free parking, it'd be about the same - or even less. Granted my commute would pretty much double in time.

[HockeyMac18]

Originally Posted by taskmgr

It's 4 miles directly West... it's kind of twisty. So I don't quite live in the reservoir.

Also, it's a 35 mile drive each way. That's 70 miles r/t. Gas alone is about $10 per day. And then there's maintenance, etc - so let's say $15 per day (probably closer to $25.)

If I can get free parking, it'd be about the same - or even less. Granted my commute would pretty much double in time.

Depends on how far your work is from a station. The express trains get to San Jose in almost exactly 30 minutes. Also, a lot of companies (in their attempt to become more green) offer incentives to take public transit to work. Where I work (Stanford) gives free caltrain to all employees between all zones (awesome!). Maybe where you're working has something like that?

And even thought your commute might come out being longer overall, you can at least be productive during that commute (respond to emails, read a book, etc).