California to see more than $373 million in rail enhancements

KeepSanDiegoMoving.com

The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) has announced 14 recipients for the 2016 Transit and Intercity Capital Program (TIRCP) grants totaling more than $390,893,000. 

With $373,963,000 of the funding going toward rail projects, the work is intended to enhance the state’s public transportation system. The awarded funding is made possible through the state’s Cap and Trade auction profits.

“This investment of Cap and Trade dollars is really about transforming this state’s transportation system to create jobs, reduce harmful emissions and expand mobility options so Californians can get around as efficiently and conveniently as possible,” said CalSTA Secretary Brian Kelly.

Officials say the allotted grants are also part of California Gov. Jerry Brown’s efforts to decrease greenhouse gas emissions in the state.

Kelly added, “Today we invest in California’s future—improved bus services in Fresno, BART to San Jose in the Bay Area, expanded ACE service to better connect the Northern San Joaquin Valley with Silicon Valley, new streetcar systems in Sacramento and Santa Ana, electrified transit services in the Bay Area and Southern California, vital improvements to LA Metro’s Green, Purple and Red lines, expanded rail services between Southern California cities and the Central Coast and a new rail service connecting a major university with downtown San Bernardino.”

The 2016 awards have allotted $82 million to LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency for its plan to make track improvements and lease 31 new Talgo rail cars to offer faster and more frequent Amtrak, Coaster and Metrolink service. The Los Angeles County Metro Transportation Authority was awarded $40 million for its project that aims to build a new transit station that will allow passengers better access between the Los Angeles International Airport, the Metro Green and Purple lines and bus services.

The Sacramento Regional Transit District received $30 million for its plans to construct a new zero-emissions streetcar line to link Sacramento and West Sacramento. $28 million will go to the Orange County Transportation Authority, which has proposed a project to build its zero-emission OC Streetcar line to connect Santa Ana and Garden Grove while also bringing in system-wide mobile ticketing.

$20 million is set to go toward the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers board for its project aiming to build the Caltrain Electrification Project to bring in new trainsets and offer faster, more frequent service. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority also received $20 million in funding for its plan to complete the BART  to San Jose Phase II extension.

San Bernadino Associated Governments received more than $9 million for its application to construct a new rail system connecting downtown San Bernadino and the University of Redlands. Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority, an intercity passenger rail service that operates from Silicon Valley/San Jose through the Sacramento region to Sierra foothills, received $8,999,000 in funding for its project to construct track and facility improvements to allow for three Amtrak roundtrip services daily between Sacramento and Roseville.

In total, CalSTA officials say they received 41 applications for funding from throughout California. The 14 projects selected are valued at a total project cost of more than $3.8 billion.

CalSTA will also be adopting a five-year program of projects by July 1, 2018, through Senate Bill 9 (Beall, 2015). The program requires the funding of “larger, more transformative” projects. 

Officials say the state anticipates long-term funding to go toward projects such as:

• The BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension to San Jose Diridon and Santa Clara stations
• Commuter and intercity rail projects in northern California, such as expanded ACE, San Joaquin and Capitol Corridor service, that will link the high-speed rail project to millions of Californians through shared stations in the Bay Area and the Central Valley
• Expanded capacity for Los Angeles Union Station
• Commuter and intercity rail projects in southern California, such as expanded Metrolink, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, and Coaster service that will link the high-speed rail project to millions of Californians through shared stations in the south
• Streetcar, light rail and high-frequency bus projects all around the state that expand transit ridership with zero-emission vehicles well suited to the achievement of climate goals 
• Investments in stronger integration between local transit and the statewide high speed, intercity and regional rail network, such as those underway in Fresno, that boost ridership and increase use of existing services
• Expansion of the intercity rail network into new markets, such as the Coachella Valley and the Central Coast, and development of zero-emission services on the intercity feeder bus network 

Cap and Trade auction proceeds from eight anticipated auctions in fiscal year 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 will support funding for the 2016 award recipients.

Officials say CalSTA may allot additional funding toward the already announced awards and possibly fund additional projects submitted for the 2016 program if the state legislature appropriates additional funding to the TIRCP in this legislative session.