The California State Transportation Agency approved 6 additional projects to 4 recipients utilizing an additional $12.3 million in State Rail Assistance (SRA) program funding. These projects add to the $51.9 million approved in January 2018, bringing cumulative SRA awards to $64.2 million for projects. These projects are focused investments to improve commuter and intercity rail service across the state, reduce air pollution and ease traffic congestion.
State Rail Assistance provides California’s commuter and intercity rail agencies with dependable supplemental revenue that they can use to improve rail service in various ways, including:
- Operations funding for expanded service;
- Increased customer amenities such as discounted tickets;
- Capital investments such as new and cleaner-emissions rolling stock to increase capacity and reduce emissions, and;
- Track and station investments that can reduce travel times, delays, improve accessibility and enhance the customer experience.
About $41 million of additional program capacity remains between now and June 30, 2020, and applicants are allowed to propose additional investments on an on-going basis to apply for these remaining funds.
Today’s projects awarded include:
- Two projects providing improved reliability and capacity for Altamont Corridor Express, extending the Fremont platform to handle longer trains and eliminating a speed reduction through a junction between two railroads near Tracy
- Enabling federal requirements for revenue service demonstration of Positive Train Control to be met by December 2018 for Caltrain
- Expansion of the Grover Beach station into a multi-modal facility benefiting transit, bicycle, pedestrian, vanpool and rail users for Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner route
- Reducing delays in Stockton for ACE, Amtrak and freight trains and increasing parking for Merced Amtrak passengers for Amtrak’s San Joaquin route
Project budgets and descriptions were also updated to reflect approved changes in matching funds and timelines for project delivery.
Senate Bill 1 created the State Rail Assistance Program by directing a portion of new revenue specifically to intercity rail and commuter rail. The majority of program funding is directed by statutory formula to rail operators.
A complete list of projects can be found here. (PDF)
Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the landmark transportation infrastructure bill signed by Governor Brown in April, will provide $7.6 billion in new transit funding over the next decade. For complete details on SB 1 visit http://www.rebuildingca.ca.gov/.