The California State Transportation Agency has announced 28 recipients for more than $2.6 billion dollars in Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program 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 over $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 towards meeting the State’s climate and air quality goals, with a total reduction of more than 32 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
“These zero emission bus and rail projects mean millions of tons less pollution in the air we breathe,” said Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.
“The projects selected for this round of Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program grants make great strides in helping California transform the state transportation system,” said CalSTA Secretary Brian Annis. “This investment of SB1 revenue and Cap and Trade dollars will help us reduce harmful emissions, expand mobility options and create jobs statewide.”
This multi-year funding program provides project funding for 28 projects, with a total cost exceeding $18 billion. These projects will provide significant benefits to Californians through expanded transit and rail offerings that are faster, more frequent, and more reliable.
Pivotal Improvements for Southern California Region –Investment is focused on critical projects to prepare Los Angeles and the Southern California region for the 2028 Olympic Games with 6 major LA Metro expansion projects receiving funding including light rail extensions to Torrance and Montclair and additional rapid transit service along congested corridors. Additional funding to go towards improving 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 to along the congested US-101 corridor and new rail service to Salinas and Monterey, continued support for Caltrain electrification with funding 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. Also provides funding for zero-emission vehicles for SolanoExpress and AC Transit.
Transforming the Central Valley – Supports the creation of an integrated ACE and San Joaquin rail system increasing service frequency in the Central Valley while providing new service connections to Ceres and Sacramento. 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.
The awards is part of SB 1’s $7.6 billion investment in transit projects. In January, CalSTA awarded $51.9 million in State Rail Assistance program funding which focused on projects that improve commuter and intercity rail service across the state, reduce air pollution and ease traffic congestion.
