USD 1.3 billion investment will be allotted to 27 new Californian public transport projects which will transform and improve rail and transit system, the Governor Gavin Newsom announced. The projects have a total cost of USD 10.28 billion.
This funding is part of a multiyear, multibillion dollar investment to modernise and expand the state’s public transit network and prioritises safety, equity, climate action and economic prosperity in the transport decisions California makes. The USD 1.3 billion in competitive awards approved follows more than USD 2.2 billion distributed to agencies statewide this summer. The latest awarded projects will leverage more than USD 8.6 billion in matching local, federal and other state funding.
The awarded projects and rail-related projects include:
LA Metro was awarded a USD 231 million funding that will support the USD 7.16 billion West Santa Ana Branch transit corridor, a new LRT line connecting the City of Artesia in southeast LA County to Slauson A-Line station. The 23.3 km LRT line will be served by 9 stations. In April 2024, the project received CEQA certification, approving the new light rail and stations including five parking facilities, and a maintenance facility in Bellflower. USD 500 million funding exists for the project which expects more than USD 3.2 billion in federal funding through the Federal Transit Administration Capital Investment Grant programme, along with more than USD 2.7 billion in local funding commitments. The project is expected to be completed in 2035.
USD 125 million awarded to Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) for LOSSAN rail corridor for which the improvements will safeguard the reliability and resiliency of the railroad at least for the next 30 years. The project should be completed in 2029.
USD 14 million was awarded for Capitol Corridor revamping accessibility and performance for the Corridor ID programme. USD 26.7 million is the total budget of the project which includes Santa Clara Interlocking component, the construction of a 1 km new track, two 15 power turnouts, and signal improvements and the Railyards Western Connector component. The project completion for funded components is expected by 2027.
USD 63.2 million will be used for Central Coast programme – Facilitating and Accelerating Service Transformations (FAST) which has a total budget of USD 102.4 million. the project includes the construction of a new train station in downtown King City, south Monterey County, and rail siding upgrades, crossover and siding improvements near San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles to improve rail operations and the construction of Ortega siding between the Santa Barbara and Carpinteria stations. The project completion is expected by 2028 for the Ortega siding component, 2029 for the King City multimodal transport centre and 2029 for Templeton siding improvements component.
USD 117 million funding of the USD 147 million project budget will support a series of transformative transit improvements in Bakersfield, and the surrounding region. The project scope is aimed at increasing ridership, reducing GHG emissions, enhancing transit safety, and improving connectivity with high-speed rail.
USD 38.4 million of the total USD 155.4 million budget was awarded to LOSSAN double tracking and bluff stabilisation project which includes two critical upgrades aimed at increasing and retaining ridership.
USD 40.5 million out of USD 50.5 million budget was provided for the construction of Mead Valley Metrolink station in Perris which will provide new access point to the Metrolink system. The project is co-financed by the Riverside County Transportation Commission with USD 6.3 million and USD 3.7 million in local Measure A sales tax funds. The new station should be completed in 2029.
USD 29 million will go to Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) for the USD 126 million project to increase ridership by investing in the construction of two new stations and LRVs. The project covers the procurement of 6 low-floor light rail vehicles as well as the modernisation of 17 Blue Line stations to accommodate the new LRVs, as well as the implementation of workforce development programme. In 2029 the entire project is expected to be completed.
USD 130 million will be used by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) for the USD 686.47 million CBTC programme – phase 2 to increase efficiency and reliability of the Muni Metro light rail network in San Francisco. A USD 550 million additional financing is covered by local, state and federal funds and the entire program should be completed in 2034.
USD 70.86 will support the USD 527 million project carried put by San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission and San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJRRC and SJJPA) that will bring additional benefits on the Valley rail programme under several components. These include the construction of a a grade separation of Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway (BNSF Railway) and Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) rail lines, Madera HSR station on the Merced – Bakersfield high-speed line, and the Rail Academy of Central California.
USD 81 million was provided for Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART) rail and pathway corridor project worth USD 269 million project that will add new passenger rail service to Healdsburg and upgrade the existing rail infrastructure to increase commuter ridership. The project includes the reconstruction of 9 km section from Windsor to Healdsburg Depot, and the construction of a 5.3 km section from Healdsburg Depot to the Healdsburg city, station upgrades, freight branches, and PTC deployment. In 2028 the project will be completed.
USD 44.8 million will support Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) to develop the Eastern Maintenance facility covering two service and inspection tracks that will allow four additional round trip rail services on Metrolink. It also completes the design phase for the full buildout of the Eastern Maintenance facility in Colton. The entire project would be finalised in 2032.
These Californian public transport projects will provide citizens real alternatives to road transport and will keep the state to achieve its ambitious climate goals. The selected projects will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 4.3 million metric tonnes, which is equivalent to taking more than 1.3 million gas-powered cars off the road.
“California is expanding our transport network and making it greener and more equitable. From new zero-emissions buses in the Central Valley to vital rail projects in Orange County, we’re building a better transit system to benefit all Californians,” Governor Gavin Newsom said.
The Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) supported 153 transit projects with more than USD 11.5 billion since 2015.
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