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Caltrain Praises Historic Transportation Funding Package in State Budget
Nearly $11 billion dedicated for state transportation programs, including a $900 million pot specifically for projects like Caltrain electrification
Caltrain officials celebrated the enactment of the Fiscal Year 2022-23 California Budget Act, which includes a historic $10.9 billion funding package for state transportation programs, including the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP). Within the TIRCP is a $900 million minimum set-aside for capital projects like the Caltrain Electrification Project, scheduled to be complete by 2024.
“We applaud the collaboration and leadership of Governor Newsom and the State Legislature on their historic $10.9 billion funding package for California’s public transportation systems, which will provide unprecedented levels of support for critical transit projects,” said Caltrain Acting Executive Director Michelle Bouchard. “We want to thank Assemblymembers Phil Ting, Kevin Mullin and Marc Berman, Senators Nancy Skinner and Josh Becker, Senate and Assembly Leadership, and every member of our local delegation for advocating on behalf of these crucial transportation investments. Because of their continued support, we are on the verge of a fully funded, soon-to-be completed Caltrain Electrification Project.”
As noted above, the new budget includes $1.5 billion for TIRCP projects in Northern California and of that amount, at least $900 million is reserved for projects like Caltrain Electrification. Over the coming months, the exact amount will be determined. Caltrain electrification currently faces a $410 million shortfall and support from the state budget will be critical to helping Caltrain complete the project by 2024.
The electrification of the Caltrain system will deliver major benefits to the communities that it serves. Electrification will reduce Caltrain’s greenhouse gas emissions and eliminate the particulate matter caused by the aging diesel engines.
Service will become both more frequent and more comfortable, as state-of-the-art electric trains replace the 30-year-old diesel fleet. The project has also created thousands of jobs locally and throughout the country, both to electrify the corridor and to assemble the new trains. Electrified service will lay the foundation to meet Caltrain’s goal of tripling capacity by 2040, the equivalent of carrying 5.5 lanes to U.S. Highway 101.
The infrastructure that is being installed will be compatible with future high-speed rail on the corridor. The Caltrain Electrification Project is expected to be completed in 2024.
In addition to the $900 million set-aside for transit initiatives like Caltrain electrification, the FY 2022-23 Budget Act includes $3 million for wireless crossing technology for Caltrain, thanks to Assembly Member Marc Berman. This funding will help improve gate-down times at Caltrain crossings.
Overall, the $10.9 billion package includes new investments in public transit, grade separations, freight movement, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, and climate adaptation projects.
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About Caltrain: Owned and operated by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, Caltrain provides commuter rail service from San Francisco to San Jose, with commute service to Gilroy. While the Joint Powers Board assumed operating responsibilities for the service in 1992, the railroad celebrated 150 years of continuous passenger service in 2014. Planning for the next 150 years of Peninsula rail service, Caltrain is on pace to electrify the corridor, reduce diesel emissions by 97 percent by 2040 and add more service to more stations.