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    1. Management

    CalSTA awards more than $2.5 billion to 16 California transit projects

    Feb. 2, 2023
    The funds through the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program, which supports projects that expand and improve public transit throughout California.
    Caltrain
    CalSTA awarded $2.5 billion in TIRCP funds including $367 million for Caltrain to complete the ongoing electrification of its corridor between San Jose and San Francisco.
    CalSTA awarded $2.5 billion in TIRCP funds including $367 million for Caltrain to complete the ongoing electrification of its corridor between San Jose and San Francisco.

    The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) awarded more than $2.5 billion in grants through its Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) that will support 16 transit and rail projects in the state. TIRCP has provided more than $9.1 billion in funding to nearly 100 projects since 2015. TIRCP awarded funds to projects that will reduce emissions and greenhouse gases, expand and improve transit service, integrate rail service and improve transit safety.

    “The projects funded represent critical transportation and will provide alternatives to driving with access to a modernized, public transit system,” said California Gov. Gavin Newsom. “California is unwavering in our commitment to our world-leading climate agenda, including record levels of investments in public transportation projects to electrify fleets, expand and improve service and spark ridership growth.”

    More than 41 percent of the funding awarded went to four projects in the San Francisco Bay area, including:

    "Metro areas around the state compete fiercely for TIRCP grants," explained Metropolitan Transportation Commission Chair and Napa County Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza. "The Bay Area chose to focus on a small number of projects that already are either under construction or set to begin construction soon and that also have already earned commitments of federal dollars."

    Additional projects to see TIRCP funds awarded in northern California include:

    • $141.9 million to San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) and San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) for the Valley Rail project
    • $30 million to the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority for the Sacramento to Roseville Third Track Project
    LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency
    The LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency was awarded more than $20 million from CalSTA for two projects as part of the larger TIRCP funding allocation.
    The LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency was awarded more than $20 million from CalSTA for two projects as part of the larger TIRCP funding allocation.
    A total of 10 southern California projects received TIRCP funding, including:
    • $600 million to Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor.
    • $407.4 million to the city of Inglewood for the Inglewood Transit Connector.
    • $149.8 million to the Orange County Transportation Authority for the OC Streetcar project that will add 4.15 miles of new rail transit.
    • $106.9 million to Metrolink for three components as part of its Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion project. The components include the El Monte Siding and Station Improvements project, the Fullerton Junction Reconfiguration and Fullerton to Esperanza Third Track project and the Simi Valley Double Track project.
    • A combined $20.6 million to the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency for two projects: The Corridor Hardening ($6.4 million) and the Central Coast Layover Facility ($14 million).
    • $18.78 million to the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) and Omnitrans for the West Valley Connector Bus Rapid Transit Phase 1 and Zero-Emission Bus Initiative.
    • $15.78 million to SBCTA for its DMU to ZEMU Conversion, which is part of the Relands Passenger Rail project.
    • $5.6 million to the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments for the Goleta Train Depot Improvements project.
    • $4.2 million to the San Diego Association of Governments for a bikeway project known as Ride Between the Lines: Enhancing Access to Transit in San Diego.

    “These historic investments in transit and intercity rail projects will help get these transformative projects over the finish line and into operation, so the people of California can enjoy more of the mobility, safety, environmental and equity benefits that come with riding transit,”CalSTA Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said. “With billions of additional state investments in the pipeline, more upgrades are on the way – putting California transit agencies in a strong position to compete for significant federal infrastructure funding to deliver even more improvements.”

    About the Author

    Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director

    Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.

    Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.

    She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.  

    She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.