TRANSPORTATION
The multi-year program includes funding to improve regional commuter and intercity rail to make Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink services faster and more reliable. Photo: Amtrak
ing for additional electric trainsets. TIRCP invests in additional new rail vehicles for BART and SF Muni to improve service and reduce train crowding during peak service, and funding for SMART train extensions to connect with Larkspur ferry service and Windsor. It also provides funding for zero-emission vehicles for SolanoExpress andAC Transit. Transforming the Central Valley — Funding supports creation of an integrated ACE and San Joaquin rail system, increasing service fre- quency in the Central Valley while providing new service connections to Ceres and Sacramento. It provides funding for zero-emission bus purchases for Fresno, light rail service improvements for Sacramento Regional Transit, and establishes a new zero-emission intercity bus service connecting the North State to Sacramento. April’s awards are part of SB 1’s $7.6 billion investment in transit projects. In January, CalSTA awarded $51.9 million in State Rail Assis- tance program funding that focused on projects that improve commuter and intercity rail service across the state, reduce air pollution, and ease traffic congestion. TIRCP is also funded through the Cap and Trade Program’s auction proceeds and its Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The Cap-and-Trade Program is one of many programs developed under AB 32 to fight cli- mate change. It is designed to reduce greenhouse gases from the largest sources of emission in California, and to drive innovation and steer the state toward a clean energy economy. For more information on: • California’s Climate Initiatives — www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov/ energy-efficiency-clean-energy • Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program 2018 Awards — https://cal- sta.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/04/Transit-and-Intercity- Rail-Capital-Program-2018-Awards.pdf • Detailed Project Award Summary — https://calsta.ca.gov/wp-content/ uploads/sites/12/2018/04/2018-TIRCP-Detailed-Project-Summary.pdf • SB 1 — www.rebuildingca.ca.gov
Support for California transit and rail CalSTA awards $2.6 billion in grants to 28 projects.
In late April, the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) announced 28 recipients for more than $2.6 billion in Transit and In- tercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) grants for transformative transit and rail projects. CalSTA is also providing additional funding for seven critical projects through multi-year funding agreements, bringing the total awarded to more than $4.3 billion. TIRCP funding is provided through Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) and from the proceeds of the Cap and Trade program. The program provides major benefits toward meeting the state’s climate and air quality goals, with a total reduction of more than 32 million tons of greenhouse gas emis- sions. This multi-year program provides funding for 28 projects, with a total cost exceeding $18 billion. These projects will provide significant ben- efits to Californians through expanded transit and rail offerings that are faster, more frequent, and more reliable, CalSTA said. Pivotal Improvements for Southern California Region — Investment is focused on critical projects to prepare Los Angeles and the South- ern California region for the 2028 Olympic Games with six major LA Metro expansion projects receiving funding, including light rail exten- sions to Torrance and Montclair and additional rapid transit service along congested corridors. Additional funding will go toward improv- ing regional commuter and intercity rail to make Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink services faster and more reliable through major investments including track improvements at Los Angeles Union Station. Better Connections for the Bay Area — Projects establish the San Jose Diridon station as a Bay Area Regional hub by completing the funding for BART to San Jose, creation of new Samtrans express bus routes along the congested US-101 corridor, new rail service to Salinas and Monterey, and continued support for Caltrain electrification with fund-
Information provided by the California State Transportation Agency (https://calsta.ca.gov).
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csengineermag.com
june 2018
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