CalSTA awards $13.1M of SRA funds to advance 9 California projects

Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority
Photo courtesy of Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority

The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) has awarded $13.1 million of Senate Bill 1 State Rail Assistance (SRA) funding to advance nine projects throughout California, the agency announced on March 6.

The funds are in addition to the $64.2 million approved in 2018, bringing the total SRA award funding for such projects to $77.3 million, officials said.

The recipient projects aim to expand intercity rail service throughout the state, minimize air pollution and reduce traffic congestion.

SRA funding is intended to provide reliable, supplemental revenue to enhance rail service and provide opportunities to California’s local commuter and intercity rail agencies.

The funds apply to the following functions:

  • 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;
  • Track and station investments that can reduce travel times, delays, improve accessibility and enhance the customer experience.
  • Officials say about $27.6 million of additional program capacity remains between now and June 30, 2020.
  • Applicants may propose additional investments on an ongoing basis to supply the remaining funds.

Photo: Caltrans

The newly awarded projects include the following:

  • Funding for the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority to bolster the construction of new siding near the Santa Clara-Great America station. The funds aim to reduce delays for regular rail service.
  • Funding for the Coast Rail Coordinating Council and its member agencies, via the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments, to complete a Coast Rail Corridor Service Implementation Plan and to complete pre-construction work required to build a new intercity rail station in King City, Calif.
  • Funding for the Riverside County Transportation Commission to build the Coachella Festival special event train platform in Indio, Calif., to enable regular special events service.
  • Four Caltrans projects intended to progress the expansion of statewide fleet and maintenance facilities and pilot new services to fill gaps in the rail system in Northern California.

The newly awarded projects are expected to allow new rail services to be offered.

A list of all of the SRA New Projects can be viewed here.

Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) is described officially as “the landmark transportation infrastructure bill” that was signed in April 2017. The bill is expected to provide $7.6 billion in new transit funding throughout the next decade. Complete details regarding SB1 can be viewed here.

Last April, CalSTA awarded $2.6 billion in Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program grants to 28 recipients and provided additional funding for seven projects through multi-year funding agreements, bringing the total awarded for such projects at the time to more than $4.3 billion.

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