Gov. Brown signs bill committing bond funds to CalMod program

Caltrain

Caltrain’s Modernization Program is set to receive Prop 1A funding allocated during the 2012 budget process following California Gov. Jerry Brown’s recent signing of Assembly Bill 1889.

The funding is set to pay for the state’s high-speed rail project, which includes investments in projects to electrify the system and connect it in the north and south through high-speed rail.

The bill calls Caltrain’s project “suitable and ready” for investment and notes the investment in the system aligns with the commuter rail line’s business plan.

“The passage of AB 1889 is another important milestone toward the successful completion of an electrified Caltrain corridor,” said Caltrain Executive Director Jim Hartnett. “This bill will play an important role in bringing Caltrain’s system into the 21st century.”

The California State Transportation Agency announced Oct. 7 that the Caltrain Modernization Program would receive a grant recognizing projects that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance public transportation infrastructure throughout the state.

 “Our transportation infrastructure has many needs and AB 1889 will allow Caltrain to address one of those needs by moving forward with electrification of their system, providing both short- and long-term benefits,” said Speaker Pro Tem Kevin Mullin. “This project will provide a cleaner, faster, quieter rail system, take cars off our roads [and] significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the quality of life for residents in this region.”

Caltrain awarded Balfour Beatty Construction the design-build contract for the project. Stadler Inc. received the contract to manufacture new electric vehicles for the line. Phase one of Caltrain’s electrification installation is slated to begin in 2017.

The project will electrify the system between San Francisco and the Tamien Station in San Jose, Calif., and convert the line’s diesel-based system to Electric Multiple Units (EMUs). 

Officials say the line’s electrification will allow Caltrain to reach more stations and lower diesel emissions by 96 percent along the corridor by 2040.