Caltrain Modernization Program secures additional funds

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
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Caltrain

Caltrain's Modernization Program received an additional $211 million investment following a seven-party agreement adopted by the agency's board of directors on May 5, 2016.

 

The agreement increases commitments in funding from Caltrain’s state and local partners. More than half of the $211 million additional investment comes from the California High-Speed Rail Authority, which will invest an additional $113 million into the modernization program.

“Our region, along with our federal and state partners, has demonstrated a deep commitment to this project,” said Jim Hartnett, Caltrain’s executive director. “The Caltrain Modernization Program is the most transformative project this corridor has ever undertaken. It offers unique economic, environmental and mobility benefits to the region and it is a key link in a high-speed rail network that will transform the way we think about transportation in California.”

The Caltrain Electrification Project will electrify the system between San Francisco and the Tamien Station in San Jose and replace Caltrain’s diesel-based system with high performance Electric Multiple Units. The electrification project will reduce diesel emissions in this corridor by 96 percent by 2040 and will allow Caltrain to provide more service to more stations, increasing ridership and providing faster service between San Francisco and San Jose.

The need for additional funding was identified in 2014 when the project’s budget was updated from 2008 cost estimates, and funding partners agreed to increase the amount budgeted for project contingency.

Approval of the agreement helps prepare the board to consider the award of contracts to equip the rail corridor with electrification infrastructure and replace most of the system’s diesel trains with high-performance electric vehicles.

Caltrain noted that the funding agreement reflects the project’s widespread support from a growing coalition of federal, state, regional and local stakeholders committed to improving public transportation and addressing congestion between San Francisco and San Jose.

“Caltrain electrification is extremely important to improving Bay Area transit connections and to our efforts to encourage more public transit use for people going to and from San Francisco. The city continues to grow and our regional roadways are already nearing capacity. Electrifying Caltrain will make it an even better option for more people for more trips, and will pave the way for ultimately getting Caltrain and California high-speed rail to the Transbay Transit Center. The city and the region will benefit significantly from this investment, which is necessary to better accommodate today’s riders, as well as future Bay Area residents, workers, and visitors,” said Ed Reiskin, director of transportation for the city and county of San Francisco.

Caltrain plans to award contracts in July 2016 and introduce electrified service in 2020. In February, the Obama Administration allocated $72 million in prior year funding to the project and asked Congress for an additional $125 million in the 2017 Federal Budget through the FTA Core Capacity Grant Program. These funds are part of a larger $647 million request for a Federal full funding grant agreement that is expected to be finalized in 2016. Contracts for the Electrification project will be structured so that full authorization to proceed with construction is issued following the approval of Caltrain’s federal grant agreement funding request.

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